Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2020

Tornado Warning 16, NWS Twin Cities, MN

July 18, 2020Chisago County, Isanti County, Kanabec County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at Jul 18, 2020, 1:03 AM CDT for Chisago County, Isanti County, Kanabec County, Minnesota. It was in force for 27 min. 8 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jul 18, 2020, 1:03 AM CDT (06:03 UTC)
Expired
Jul 18, 2020, 1:30 AM CDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Chisago County, MN, Isanti County, MN, Kanabec County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:06 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 18, 1:07 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG6 Wsw Braham, MNNUMEROUS TREES DOWN ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST ISANTI COUNTY IN A SWATH ABOUT TWO MILES WIDE. SOME OF THE HARDEST HIT AREAS WERE WEST OF STANCHFIELD, EXTENDING TO EAST OF STANCHFIELD AT THE COUNTY LINE BY 120 AM. SEVERAL SHEDS WERE BLOWN DOWN. SURVEY S
Jul 18, 1:10 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG7 W Braham, MNLARGE OAK TREE (ROUGHLY 2 FT IN DIAMETER) SNAPPED NEAR BASE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Jul 18, 1:15 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG4 S Braham, MNAT LEAST ONE DOZEN TREES DOWN AND POWER OUT IN STANCHFIELD PER LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
Jul 18, 1:20 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 Ese Braham, MNBOATS AND DOCKS DAMAGED ON RUSH LAKE. TIME ESTIMATED.
Jul 18, 1:24 AM CDTTORNADO5 Se Braham, MNA BRIEF EF0 TORNADO SPIN UP WITHIN A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED ON THE WEST SIDE OF RUSH LAKE AND TRACKED TO THE SOUTH SIDE. BOATS AND DOCKS WERE DAMAGED. SPORADIC STRAIGHT LINE WIND DAMAGE OCCURRED SURROUNDING THE TRACK. MAX WINDS 80 MPH, LENGTH 1.
Jul 18, 1:25 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 N Harris, MNNWS SURVEY DETERMINED THE DAMAGE BETWEEN HARRIS AND RUSH CITY ALONG CR30 WAS DUE TO DOWNBURST. HUNDREDS OF TREES WERE DOWN, SOME ON VEHICLES AND SHEDS. ONE MACHINE SHED HAD ITS ROOF RIPPED OFF.
Jul 18, 1:25 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGRush City, MNDEPUTY SAW SEVERAL TREES GO DOWN IN RUSH CITY ALONG HIGHWAY 61.
Jul 18, 1:35 AM CDTTSTM WND GST 503 Ssw Rush City, MNMESONET STATION MN004 HARRIS 2N.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 17, 5:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Watch PDSSPC8 hr
Jul 17, 10:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 6.1 hours before the alert went out and 105 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2020-07-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1995 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2020-07-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 35 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1995 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-87 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1267 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
35 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
218 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
5.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

950 
WFUS53 KMPX 180603
TORMPX
MNC025-059-065-180630-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0016.200718T0603Z-200718T0630Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
103 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2020

The National Weather Service in The Twin Cities has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  South central Kanabec County in east central Minnesota...
  Northwestern Chisago County in east central Minnesota...
  North central Isanti County in east central Minnesota...

* Until 130 AM CDT.
    
* At 103 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Brunswick, or 14 miles north of Cambridge, moving
  east at 50 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Grasston around 110 AM CDT.
  Rush City around 125 AM CDT.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4580 9314 4573 9314 4573 9285 4572 9287
      4556 9288 4568 9342 4582 9337
TIME...MOT...LOC 0603Z 279DEG 44KT 4573 9333 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

BORGHOFF
2 follow-up statements
024 
WWUS53 KMPX 180616
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
116 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2020

MNC059-065-180626-
/O.CAN.KMPX.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-200718T0630Z/
Kanabec MN-Isanti MN-
116 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2020

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL KANABEC AND NORTH CENTRAL
ISANTI COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 AM CDT for
east central Minnesota...and northwestern Wisconsin.

LAT...LON 4573 9285 4572 9287 4565 9289 4561 9288
      4556 9288 4562 9314 4573 9314
TIME...MOT...LOC 0616Z 279DEG 44KT 4570 9309 

$$

MNC025-180630-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-200718T0630Z/
Chisago MN-
116 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2020

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 130 AM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN CHISAGO COUNTY...
    
At 116 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Rush City, or 10 miles southwest of Pine City,
moving east at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Rush City around 125 AM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Harris, Rush City Airport and Wild River State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4573 9285 4572 9287 4565 9289 4561 9288
      4556 9288 4562 9314 4573 9314
TIME...MOT...LOC 0616Z 279DEG 44KT 4570 9309 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

BORGHOFF
174 
WWUS53 KMPX 180626
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
126 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2020

MNC025-180636-
/O.EXP.KMPX.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-200718T0630Z/
Chisago MN-
126 AM CDT Sat Jul 18 2020

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN CHISAGO COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
130 AM CDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning will
be allowed to expire.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 AM CDT for
east central Minnesota...and northwestern Wisconsin.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
The Twin Cities.

LAT...LON 4573 9285 4572 9287 4565 9289 4561 9288
      4556 9288 4562 9314 4573 9314
TIME...MOT...LOC 0626Z 279DEG 44KT 4568 9293 

$$

BORGHOFF

The office that day

Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 17, 9:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXDouglas67 min
Jul 17, 9:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXTodd53 min
Jul 17, 10:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMorrison, Todd62 min
Jul 17, 10:16 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXMorrison, Todd44 min
Jul 17, 10:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDouglas55 min
Jul 17, 10:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDouglas, Pope, Stevens66 min
Jul 17, 10:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMille Lacs, Morrison, Stearns, Todd77 min
Jul 17, 11:51 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXPope, Stearns, Swift28 min
Jul 17, 11:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBenton, Kandiyohi, Morrison, Stearns77 min
Jul 18, 12:13 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXKanabec, Mille Lacs62 min
Jul 18, 12:26 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBenton, Isanti, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Sherburne, Stearns and 1 more49 min
Jul 18, 12:32 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXLac qui Parle, Swift43 min
Jul 18, 12:44 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXChippewa, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Renville, Swift, Yellow Medicine61 min
Jul 18, 1:16 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXKandiyohi, Meeker, Stearns44 min
Jul 18, 1:19 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXAnoka, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Wright56 min
Jul 18, 1:38 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXMcLeod, Meeker, Redwood, Renville52 min
Jul 18, 3:03 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXCarver, Dakota, Hennepin, Scott, Washington42 min
Jul 18, 3:43 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXGoodhue, Rice32 min
Jul 18, 4:06 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXWatonwan39 min
Jul 18, 5:09 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXFreeborn, Steele, Waseca66 min
Jul 18, 5:00 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXAnoka30 min
Jul 18, 5:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXAnoka52 min
Jul 18, 5:48 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXAnoka42 min
Jul 18, 6:07 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXWashington38 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2020Every tornado warning in 2020Tornadoes in 2020

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.