Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2024

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Twin Cities, MN

May 21, 2024Goodhue County, Rice County, Steele County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at May 21, 2024, 4:50 PM CDT for Goodhue County, Rice County, Steele County, Minnesota. It was in force for 40 min. 2 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 21, 2024, 4:50 PM CDT (21:50 UTC)
Expired
May 21, 2024, 5:30 PM CDT
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Goodhue County, MN, Rice County, MN, Steele County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:52 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
May 21, 4:57 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 S Faribault, MNLarge tree down blocking roadway 2 miles south of Faribault. Time estimated via radar.
May 21, 4:57 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 S Faribault, MNLarge tree down blocking roadway 2 miles south of Faribault. Time estimated via radar.

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
May 21, 1:14 PM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 81 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 12:00Z on 2024-05-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 67 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 12:00Z on 2024-05-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 38 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
67 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-85 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
840 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
38 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
30 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

281 
WFUS53 KMPX 212150
TORMPX
MNC049-131-147-212230-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0004.240521T2150Z-240521T2230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
450 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northeastern Steele County in south central Minnesota...
  Southwestern Goodhue County in southeastern Minnesota...
  Eastern Rice County in south central Minnesota...

* Until 530 PM CDT.

* At 450 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Medford, or near Owatonna, moving northeast 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...
  Kenyon and Nerstrand around 505 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Clinton Falls, Merton, Ruskin, Bombay, Nerstrand Big Woods State
Park, Wastedo, Hader, Owatonna Airport, and Moland.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 43 and 53.
 
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 4412 9333 4447 9320 4447 9265 4419 9300
      4419 9305 4415 9305 4406 9316
TIME...MOT...LOC 2150Z 222DEG 43KT 4414 9322 

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

$$

Borghoff
2 follow-up statements
733 
WWUS53 KMPX 212200
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
500 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

MNC147-212209-
/O.CAN.KMPX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-240521T2230Z/
Steele MN-
500 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN STEELE 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 900 PM CDT for south central
and southeastern Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4419 9309 4425 9324 4447 9314 4447 9274
TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 214DEG 48KT 4428 9313 

$$

MNC049-131-212230-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-240521T2230Z/
Goodhue MN-Rice MN-
500 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL GOODHUE AND SOUTHEASTERN RICE COUNTIES...

At 459 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Nerstrand, or 7 miles east of Faribault, moving
northeast at 55 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...
  Nerstrand around 505 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Ruskin, Wastedo, and Nerstrand Big Woods 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 4419 9309 4425 9324 4447 9314 4447 9274
TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 214DEG 48KT 4428 9313 

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

$$

Borghoff
358 
WWUS53 KMPX 212211
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
511 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

MNC131-212220-
/O.CAN.KMPX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-240521T2230Z/
Rice MN-
511 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN RICE 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 900 PM CDT for south central
and southeastern Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4428 9305 4442 9305 4447 9301 4447 9275
      4427 9299 4426 9302
TIME...MOT...LOC 2210Z 228DEG 41KT 4436 9299 

$$

MNC049-212230-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-240521T2230Z/
Goodhue MN-
511 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL GOODHUE COUNTY...

At 510 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Nerstrand, or 10 miles southeast of Northfield,
moving northeast at 45 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
west central Goodhue County, including the following locations...
Wastedo.

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 4428 9305 4442 9305 4447 9301 4447 9275
      4427 9299 4426 9302
TIME...MOT...LOC 2210Z 228DEG 41KT 4436 9299 

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

$$

Borghoff

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 20, 8:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXGoodhue29 min
May 20, 8:30 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXGoodhue30 min
May 20, 9:08 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningMPXRedwood, Renville25 hr
May 20, 9:37 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXFreeborn23 min
May 20, 10:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXSibley45 min
May 20, 11:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMartin37 min
May 20, 11:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBrown, Redwood, Renville, Sibley36 min
May 20, 11:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatMPXMartin33 min
May 20, 11:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMcLeod, Renville, Sibley25 min
May 21, 12:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXRice27 min
May 21, 12:34 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXMcLeod26 min
May 21, 1:27 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXChisago33 min
May 21, 1:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXChisago36 min
May 21, 3:59 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXBlue Earth, Faribault, Martin46 min
May 21, 4:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXFaribault, Freeborn, Steele, Waseca43 min
May 21, 4:26 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXBlue Earth34 min
May 21, 4:31 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXLe Sueur, Waseca33 min
May 21, 4:41 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMPXBlue Earth, Martin, Nicollet, Watonwan3 hr
May 21, 4:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXGoodhue44 min
May 21, 4:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXFreeborn, Steele46 min
May 21, 5:20 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXDakota, Goodhue22 min
May 21, 5:21 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXHennepin, Ramsey, Washington54 min
May 21, 6:34 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXRamsey56 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2024Every tornado warning in 2024Tornadoes in 2024

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.