Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2021

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 138, NWS Twin Cities, MN

December 15, 2021Faribault County, Freeborn County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Dec 15, 2021, 6:40 PM CST for Faribault County, Freeborn County, Minnesota. It was in force for 50 min. 12 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, 6:40 PM CST (00:40 UTC)
Expired
Dec 15, 2021, 7:30 PM CST
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Possible
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Faribault County, MN, Freeborn County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 128 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:43 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
Dec 15, 6:59 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG1 Sse Alden, MNPOWER POLES DOWN WITH TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR.
Dec 15, 6:59 PM CSTTORNADO2 Ene Walters, MNA NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOUND A PRELIMINARY EF-1 TORNADO TRACK SW OF ALDEN, MN.
Dec 15, 7:00 PM CSTTSTM WND DMGConger, MNREPORT OF TREES DOWN IN THE CONGER AREA.
Dec 15, 7:00 PM CSTTSTM WND GST 604 Ssw Conger, MN
Dec 15, 7:03 PM CSTTORNADO2 E Alden, MNNWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOUND A PRELIMINARY EF-1 TORNADO TRACK JUST EAST OF ALDEN, MN.
Dec 15, 7:09 PM CSTTSTM WND DMGHartland, MNHEAVY DAMAGE TO A BANK AND SEVERAL HOMES. TIME ESTIMATED VIA RADAR. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Dec 15, 7:10 PM CSTTSTM WND DMG5 Ese Hollandale, MN7 MATURE TREES DOWN (4 PINE, 3 POPLAR) ON A 20 ACRE PROPERTY.
Dec 15, 7:10 PM CSTTORNADOHartland, MNNWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOUND A PRELIMINARY EF-2 TORNADO TRACK IN HARTLAND, MN.
Dec 15, 7:12 PM CSTTORNADO3 Ssw Glenville, MNA BRIEF TORNADO OCCURRED SOUTH OF GLENVILLE. IT SPUN UP AROUND 782ND AVE AND TRACKED NORTHEAST 2.7 MILES PRODUCING SOME TREE DAMAGE UNTIL IT REACHED 795TH AVE. THERE, IT DAMAGED FARM BUILDINGS AND TOSSED HAY BALES ACROSS THE ROAD. MAX WIND 80 MPH, 100 YARDS MA
Dec 15, 7:13 PM CSTTORNADO2 Ssw London, MNEF-1 TORNADO MOVED 4.5 MILES TO THE NORTH WITH A LARGE MACHINE SHED DESTROYED.
Dec 15, 7:15 PM CSTTORNADO3 S Hayward, MNEF-0 TORNADO TRACKED 4 MILES TO THE NORTHEAST WITH SEVERAL ROOFS PARTIALLY BLOWN OFF.
Dec 15, 7:16 PM CSTTORNADO3 N Myrtle, MNEF-1 TORNADO TRACKED 4 MILES TO THE NNE WITH SEVERAL OUTBUILDINGS DESTROYED.

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
Dec 15, 1:23 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 128 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 2021-12-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 633 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2021-12-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 443 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
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.

564 
WUUS53 KMPX 160040
SVRMPX
MNC043-047-160130-
/O.NEW.KMPX.SV.W.0138.211216T0040Z-211216T0130Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
640 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Freeborn County in south central Minnesota...
  Faribault County in south central Minnesota...

* Until 730 PM CST.

* At 640 PM CST, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
  extending from near Amboy to 7 miles south of Bricelyn to Eagle
  Lake, moving northeast at 55 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Severe thunderstorms will be near...
  Bricelyn around 645 PM CST.
  Mansfield around 655 PM CST.
  Alden, Emmons and Conger around 700 PM CST.

Other locations in the path of these severe thunderstorms include
Twin Lakes, Albert Lea, Clarks Grove, Hayward and Hollandale.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CST for south central
Minnesota.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CST for south central
Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4384 9424 4385 9305 4350 9305 4350 9397
TIME...MOT...LOC 0040Z 240DEG 49KT 4390 9422 4346 9387 4311 9370 

TORNADO...POSSIBLE
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$
3 follow-up statements
022 
WWUS53 KMPX 160059
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
659 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

MNC043-047-160130-
/O.CON.KMPX.SV.W.0138.000000T0000Z-211216T0130Z/
Freeborn MN-Faribault MN-
659 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CST
FOR FREEBORN AND EASTERN FARIBAULT COUNTIES...

At 658 PM CST, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 5 miles east of Good Thunder to Mansfield to 5 miles
southwest of Northwood, moving northeast at 55 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
  Twin Lakes, Albert Lea, Clarks Grove, London, Hayward, Geneva and 
  Hollandale.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CST for south central
Minnesota.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4385 9305 4350 9305 4350 9384 4384 9406
TIME...MOT...LOC 0058Z 239DEG 50KT 4401 9396 4358 9358 4340 9332 

TORNADO...POSSIBLE
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$
205 
WWUS53 KMPX 160113
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
713 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

MNC043-160122-
/O.CAN.KMPX.SV.W.0138.000000T0000Z-211216T0130Z/
Faribault MN-
713 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EASTERN FARIBAULT COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the warned 
area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CST for south central
Minnesota.

LAT...LON 4384 9365 4385 9305 4350 9305 4350 9354
      4360 9364
TIME...MOT...LOC 0112Z 240DEG 49KT 4409 9376 4366 9338 4348 9312 

$$

MNC047-160130-
/O.CON.KMPX.SV.W.0138.000000T0000Z-211216T0130Z/
Freeborn MN-
713 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CST
FOR FREEBORN COUNTY...

At 712 PM CST, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Janesville to Albert Lea to 5 miles northeast of
Northwood, moving northeast at 55 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Albert Lea, Clarks Grove, Alden, Glenville, Geneva, Emmons, Hartland,
London, Hollandale, Freeborn, Hayward and Mansfield.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CST for south central
Minnesota.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4384 9365 4385 9305 4350 9305 4350 9354
      4360 9364
TIME...MOT...LOC 0112Z 240DEG 49KT 4409 9376 4366 9338 4348 9312 

TORNADO...POSSIBLE
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$
269 
WWUS53 KMPX 160124
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
724 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

MNC047-160134-
/O.EXP.KMPX.SV.W.0138.000000T0000Z-211216T0130Z/
Freeborn MN-
724 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR FREEBORN COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
730 PM CST...
    
The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.  However gusty
winds are still possible with these thunderstorms.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CST for south central
Minnesota.

LAT...LON 4384 9365 4385 9305 4350 9305 4350 9354
      4360 9364
TIME...MOT...LOC 0124Z 240DEG 49KT 4417 9357 4374 9320 4356 9294 

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 15, 6:55 PM CSTTornado WarningMPXFaribault, Freeborn35 min
Dec 15, 7:07 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBlue Earth, Le Sueur, Waseca38 min
Dec 15, 7:18 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXRice, Steele42 min
Dec 15, 7:48 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDakota, Goodhue, Rice30 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 2021Every severe thunderstorm warning 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.