Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 23, NWS La Crosse, WI

December 15, 2021Fillmore County, Houston County, Minnesota; Winneshiek County, Iowa

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this tornado warning at Dec 15, 2021, 7:38 PM CST for Fillmore County, Houston County, Minnesota; Winneshiek County, Iowa. It was in force for 37 min. 5 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: Dec 15, 2021, 7:38 PM CST (01:38 UTC)
Expired: Dec 15, 2021, 8:15 PM CST
In force: 37 min
Issued by: NWS La Crosse, WI
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Winneshiek County, IA, Fillmore County, MN, Houston County, MN

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 64 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:41 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Dec 15, 7:44 PM CST	FUNNEL CLOUD	1 S Harmony, MN
Dec 15, 7:45 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	3 S Preston, MN	DAMAGE SOUTH OF PRESTON ALONG COUNTY ROAD 22. TREES TWISTED, APPROXIMATELY 50X80 SHED LIFTED AND CATTLE BARNS DAMAGED. TIME ESTIMATED.
Dec 15, 7:45 PM CST	TSTM WND GST 84	Harmony, MN
Dec 15, 7:46 PM CST	TSTM WND GST 47	Preston, MN
Dec 15, 8:10 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	Peterson, MN	MATURE, LARGE PINE TREE DOWN REPORT VIA MEDIA ON TWITTER.

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Dec 15, 5:30 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 186 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 633 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -55 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 770 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 75 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 443 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 470 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 5.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

942 
WFUS53 KARX 160138
TORARX
IAC191-MNC045-055-160215-
/O.NEW.KARX.TO.W.0023.211216T0138Z-211216T0215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
738 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Winneshiek County in northeastern Iowa...
  Northwestern Houston County in southeastern Minnesota...
  Eastern Fillmore County in southeastern Minnesota...

* Until 815 PM CST.

* At 737 PM CST, severe thunderstorms capable of producing both
  tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage were located near
  Cresco, moving northeast at 75 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.

* These dangerous storms will be near...
  Canton around 745 PM CST.
  Preston around 750 PM CST.
  Lanesboro around 755 PM CST.
  Rushford around 800 PM CST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Choice, York, Isinours, Hutton, Peterson, County Roads W 14 And A 34
and Rushford Village.

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 4385 9204 4385 9159 4384 9158 4326 9208
      4350 9208 4350 9229
TIME...MOT...LOC 0137Z 214DEG 67KT 4346 9212 

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

$$

Baumgardt

3 follow-up statements

587 
WWUS53 KARX 160155
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
755 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

IAC191-160205-
/O.CAN.KARX.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-211216T0215Z/
Winneshiek IA-
755 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN WINNESHIEK COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CST for northeastern
Iowa...and southeastern Minnesota.

LAT...LON 4385 9204 4385 9159 4384 9158 4351 9186
      4350 9189 4357 9197 4370 9215
TIME...MOT...LOC 0155Z 225DEG 59KT 4375 9200 

$$

MNC045-055-160215-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-211216T0215Z/
Houston MN-Fillmore MN-
755 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN HOUSTON AND EASTERN FILLMORE COUNTIES...

At 755 PM CST, a severe squall line capable of producing both
tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage was located over
Lanesboro, or near Preston, moving northeast at 65 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.

These dangerous storms will be near...
  Rushford around 805 PM CST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Henrytown, Choice, Perkins, Old Barn Campground, Isinours, Peterson
and Money Creek.

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 4385 9204 4385 9159 4384 9158 4351 9186
      4350 9189 4357 9197 4370 9215
TIME...MOT...LOC 0155Z 225DEG 59KT 4375 9200 

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

$$

Baumgardt

141 
WWUS53 KARX 160208 RRA
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
808 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

MNC045-055-160215-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-211216T0215Z/
Houston MN-Fillmore MN-
808 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN HOUSTON AND NORTHEASTERN FILLMORE COUNTIES...

At 808 PM CST, a severe squall line capable of producing both
tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage was located near
Lewiston, or 10 miles southwest of Winona, moving northeast at 80
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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northwestern Houston and northeastern Fillmore Counties, including
the following locations... Arendahl, Rushford Village, Perkins, Money
Creek and Peterson.

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 4385 9204 4385 9159 4384 9158 4373 9167
      4377 9177
TIME...MOT...LOC 0208Z 224DEG 69KT 4394 9181 

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

$$

Baumgardt

657 
WWUS53 KARX 160211
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
811 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

MNC045-055-160221-
/O.EXP.KARX.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-211216T0215Z/
Houston MN-Fillmore MN-
811 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN HOUSTON AND NORTHEASTERN
FILLMORE COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 815 PM CST...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CST for southeastern
Minnesota.

LAT...LON 4385 9204 4385 9159 4384 9158 4373 9167
      4377 9177
TIME...MOT...LOC 0211Z 214DEG 67KT 4396 9179 

$$

Baumgardt

The office that day

Everything else NWS La Crosse, WI issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Dec 15, 6:37 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	ARX	Fillmore, Mower	68 min
Dec 15, 7:24 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	ARX	Dodge, Fillmore, Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona	51 min
Dec 15, 7:49 PM CST	Tornado Warning	ARX	Olmsted	14 min
Dec 15, 7:53 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threat	ARX	Houston, Wabasha, Winona	67 min
Dec 15, 7:58 PM CST	Tornado Warning	ARX	Winona	47 min
Dec 15, 8:01 PM CST	Tornado Warning	ARX	Wabasha	44 min
Dec 15, 6:44 PM CST	Tornado Warning	ARX	Floyd	32 min
Dec 15, 7:25 PM CST	Tornado Warning	ARX	Howard	20 min
Dec 15, 7:29 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	ARX	Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Winneshiek	61 min
Dec 15, 8:16 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	ARX	Allamakee, Clayton	74 min
Dec 15, 8:29 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	ARX	Allamakee, Clayton	31 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2021 Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2021 Every tornado warning in 2021 Tornadoes in 2021

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.