Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 26, NWS Twin Cities, MN

December 15, 2021Faribault County, Freeborn County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at Dec 15, 2021, 6:55 PM CST for Faribault County, Freeborn County, Minnesota. It was in force for 35 min. 7 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, 6:55 PM CST (00:55 UTC)
Expired
Dec 15, 2021, 7:30 PM CST
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.0 in

Counties Faribault County, MN, Freeborn County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 135 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:56 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 CSTTORNADOHartland, MNNWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOUND A PRELIMINARY EF-2 TORNADO TRACK IN HARTLAND, MN.

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, 0.9 hours before the alert went out and 135 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.

357 
WFUS53 KMPX 160055
TORMPX
MNC043-047-160130-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0026.211216T0055Z-211216T0130Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
655 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Western Freeborn County in south central Minnesota...
  Southeastern Faribault County in south central Minnesota...

* Until 730 PM CST.
    
* At 655 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Mansfield, or 15 miles west of Albert Lea, 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.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Alden and Conger around 700 PM CST.
  Freeborn around 705 PM CST.
  Hartland around 710 PM CST.
  Clarks Grove around 715 PM CST.

Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Geneva.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4356 9383 4385 9359 4384 9320 4350 9359
      4350 9371
TIME...MOT...LOC 0055Z 214DEG 58KT 4358 9367 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$
2 follow-up statements
558 
WWUS53 KMPX 160108
SVSMPX

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

MNC043-160118-
/O.CAN.KMPX.TO.W.0026.000000T0000Z-211216T0130Z/
Faribault MN-
708 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN FARIBAULT 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 800 PM CST for south central
Minnesota.

LAT...LON 4385 9359 4384 9320 4361 9346 4378 9365
TIME...MOT...LOC 0108Z 214DEG 58KT 4375 9351 

$$

MNC047-160130-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0026.000000T0000Z-211216T0130Z/
Freeborn MN-
708 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN FREEBORN COUNTY...
    
At 708 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Freeborn, or 9 miles northwest of Albert Lea, 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.

Locations impacted include...
  Geneva.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4385 9359 4384 9320 4361 9346 4378 9365
TIME...MOT...LOC 0108Z 214DEG 58KT 4375 9351 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$
604 
WWUS53 KMPX 160120 RRA
SVSMPX

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

MNC047-160130-
/O.EXP.KMPX.TO.W.0026.000000T0000Z-211216T0130Z/
Freeborn MN-
720 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN FREEBORN COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 730 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 800 PM CST for south central
Minnesota.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
northern Freeborn county until 730 pm.

LAT...LON 4385 9359 4384 9320 4361 9346 4378 9365
TIME...MOT...LOC 0120Z 214DEG 58KT 4391 9336 

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 15, 6:40 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXFaribault, Freeborn50 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

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