Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2022

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Grand Forks, ND

May 12, 2022Otter Tail County, Wadena County, Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this tornado warning at May 12, 2022, 7:50 PM CDT for Otter Tail County, Wadena County, Minnesota. It was in force for 28 min. 6 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: May 12, 2022, 7:50 PM CDT (00:50 UTC)
Expired: May 12, 2022, 8:18 PM CDT
In force: 28 min
Issued by: NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.0 in

Counties Otter Tail County, MN, Wadena County, MN

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 206 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:50 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
May 12, 7:52 PM CDT	TORNADO 2	3 Sw Verndale, MN	THIS TORNADO CROSSED FROM FAR NORTHWEST TODD COUNTY AROUND 752 PM, ABOUT 3 SW VERNDALE AND TRACKED TO THE NORTH UNTIL 811 PM WHERE IT LIFTED 5.5 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF SEBEKA. IT CAUSED EXTREME DAMAGE WHICH INCLUDED NUMEROUS SNAPPED POWER POLES, NUMEROUS TREE
May 12, 7:53 PM CDT	TORNADO 2	1 Wsw Verndale, MN	THIS TORNADO BEGAN AT 753 PM 1 MILE SOUTHWEST OF VERNDALE AND TRACKED TO THE NORTH UNTIL 811 PM WHERE IT LIFTED 5.5 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF SEBEKA. IT CAUSED EXTREME DAMAGE WHICH INCLUDED NUMEROUS SNAPPED POWER POLES, NUMEROUS TREES WHICH WERE SNAPPED OR UPROO
May 12, 7:55 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 94	2 Nw Verndale, MN	REPORTED BY VERNDALE RWIS.
May 12, 7:55 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 94	2 Wnw Verndale, MN	PEAK WIND MEASURED AT A MN DOT RWIS STATION. WIDESPREAD DOWNBURST WIND DAMAGE ACROSS WADENA AND ALDRICH TOWNSHIPS WITH NUMEROUS LARGE TREE BRANCHES AND LIMBS TORN DOWN, ROOFING MATERIAL TORN UP, AND SPRUCE TREES UPROOTED.
May 12, 8:06 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	7 N Verndale, MN	WIDESPREAD DOWNBURST WIND DAMAGE WITH LARGE TREE BRANCHES AND LIMBS BROKEN DOWN ACROSS EASTERN LEAF RIVER AND WESTERN WING RIVER TOWNSHIPS.
May 12, 8:11 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Nne Blue Grass, MN	WIDESPREAD DOWNBURST WIND DAMAGE WITH LARGE TREE BRANCHES AND LIMBS BROKEN DOWN ACROSS EASTERN ROCKWOOD AND WESTERN NORTH GERMANY TOWNSHIPS.

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
May 12, 5:35 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 0.8 hours before the alert went out and 218 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: 1318 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -157 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 2443 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 152 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 259 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

565 
WFUS53 KFGF 130050
TORFGF
MNC111-159-130130-
/O.NEW.KFGF.TO.W.0007.220513T0050Z-220513T0130Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
750 PM CDT Thu May 12 2022

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Wadena County in central Minnesota...
  Northeastern Otter Tail County in west central Minnesota...

* Until 830 PM CDT.

* At 750 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Wadena, or 45 miles southeast of Detroit Lakes,
  moving north at 40 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Weather spotters reported funnel cloud.

  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...
  Wadena and Bluffton around 755 PM CDT.
  Blue Grass around 810 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Sebeka, Nimrod and Menahga.

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 4637 9499 4637 9526 4678 9515 4677 9479
TIME...MOT...LOC 0050Z 194DEG 34KT 4638 9513 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

BH

2 follow-up statements

990 
WWUS53 KFGF 130109
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
809 PM CDT Thu May 12 2022

MNC111-159-130130-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-220513T0130Z/
Wadena MN-Otter Tail MN-
809 PM CDT Thu May 12 2022

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN WADENA AND NORTHEASTERN OTTER TAIL COUNTIES...
        
At 809 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Blue Grass, or 41 miles southeast of Detroit Lakes,
moving north at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Weather spotters reported a funnel cloud.

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...
  Sebeka, Nimrod and Menahga.

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.

If a tornado or other severe weather is spotted, report it to the
National Weather Service or your local nearest law enforcement agency
who will send your report. This act may save lives of others in the
path of dangerous weather.

&&

LAT...LON 4650 9493 4651 9521 4678 9515 4677 9479
TIME...MOT...LOC 0109Z 194DEG 34KT 4656 9507 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

BH

514 
WWUS53 KFGF 130118
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
818 PM CDT Thu May 12 2022

MNC111-159-130128-
/O.CAN.KFGF.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-220513T0130Z/
Wadena MN-Otter Tail MN-
818 PM CDT Thu May 12 2022

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN WADENA AND NORTHEASTERN OTTER
TAIL COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.  However gusty winds are
still possible with this thunderstorm.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for central,
northwestern and west central Minnesota.

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

LAT...LON 4650 9493 4651 9521 4678 9515 4677 9479
TIME...MOT...LOC 0117Z 194DEG 34KT 4664 9504 

$$

BH

The office that day

Everything else NWS Grand Forks, ND issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 12, 7:07 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FGF	Grant, Otter Tail, Wilkin	23 min
May 12, 7:21 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FGF	Grant, Otter Tail	16 min
May 12, 7:22 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Beltrami	38 min
May 12, 7:39 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FGF	Otter Tail	36 min
May 12, 7:47 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	FGF	Becker, Clay, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Norman and 3 more	58 min
May 12, 7:58 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Kittson, Marshall, Roseau	47 min
May 12, 7:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Kittson, Marshall, Roseau	46 min
May 13, 2:30 AM CDT	High Wind Warning	FGF	Kittson, Marshall, Polk	18 hr
May 13, 2:30 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	FGF	Becker, Clay, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Otter Tail and 5 more	18 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2022 Every tornado warning in 2022 Tornadoes in 2022

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.