Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2025
Tornado Warning 1, NWS Grand Forks, ND
NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this tornado warning at May 15, 2025, 2:21 PM CDT for Grant County, Otter Tail County, Wilkin County, Minnesota. It was in force for 39 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- May 15, 2025, 2:21 PM CDT (19:21 UTC)
- Expired
- May 15, 2025, 3:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 39 min
- Issued by
- NWS Grand Forks, ND
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Grant County, MN, Otter Tail County, MN, Wilkin County, MN
The radar
The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 193 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:23 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
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 15, 12:46 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 7.4 hours before the alert went out and 233 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 515 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -91 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1098 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 18 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 148 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 141 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.0
The text
As transmitted.
190
WFUS53 KFGF 151921
TORFGF
MNC051-111-167-152000-
/O.NEW.KFGF.TO.W.0001.250515T1921Z-250515T2000Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
Issued by National Weather Service Bismarck ND
221 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southwestern Otter Tail County in west central Minnesota...
Grant County in west central Minnesota...
Southeastern Wilkin County in west central Minnesota...
* Until 300 PM CDT.
* At 220 PM CDT, Tornado producing storms were reported over mainly
rural areas of Grant County, moving north at 40 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...
Elbow Lake, Fergus Falls, Foxhome.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
&&
LAT...LON 4590 9626 4602 9626 4602 9639 4641 9660
4628 9583 4606 9577 4593 9577 4593 9576
4580 9576
TIME...MOT...LOC 1920Z 163DEG 36KT 4589 9582 4599 9628
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
Besson2 follow-up statements
769
WWUS53 KFGF 151941
SVSFGF
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
Issued by National Weather Service Bismarck ND
241 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
MNC051-111-167-152000-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-250515T2000Z/
Otter Tail MN-Grant MN-Wilkin MN-
241 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN OTTER TAIL...NORTHERN GRANT AND SOUTHEASTERN WILKIN
COUNTIES...
At 241 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes
were located along a line extending from 4 miles west of Ashby to 5
miles east of Doran, moving north at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Fergus Falls, Elbow Lake, Ashby, Underwood, Dalton, Wendell, and
Campbell.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 4602 9618 4605 9640 4641 9660 4628 9583
4606 9577 4593 9577
TIME...MOT...LOC 1941Z 163DEG 36KT 4609 9591 4619 9637
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
Besson302
WWUS53 KFGF 152001
SVSFGF
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
Issued by National Weather Service Bismarck ND
301 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
MNC051-111-167-152010-
/O.EXP.KFGF.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-250515T2000Z/
Otter Tail MN-Grant MN-Wilkin MN-
301 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN OTTER TAIL...NORTHERN GRANT
AND SOUTHEASTERN WILKIN COUNTIES HAS EXPIRED...
The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been allowed to expire. However, gusty
winds are still possible with these thunderstorms.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for west central
Minnesota.
&&
LAT...LON 4602 9618 4605 9640 4641 9660 4628 9583
4606 9577 4593 9577
TIME...MOT...LOC 2000Z 163DEG 36KT 4626 9599 4636 9645
$$
BessonWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 15, 1:40 PM CDT, 41 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon, especially south of Highway 2.
- Showers continue on Friday with much cooler temperatures.
- There is a 60 percent chance for at least 1 inch of rain over eastern North Dakota today through Friday. Best chances west of the Red River.
Area forecast discussion, May 15, 1:40 PM CDT, 41 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
Issued by National Weather Service Bismarck ND
140 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon,
especially south of Highway 2.
- Showers continue on Friday with much cooler temperatures.
- There is a 60 percent chance for at least 1 inch of rain over
eastern North Dakota today through Friday. Best chances west
of the Red River.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 137 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
...Synopsis...
A strong upper low, and the corresponding shortwave, will traverse the area
today through Friday. This will bring widespread rain chances to eastern North
Dakota, northwest Minnesota, and west-central Minnesota. A few of todays storms
could become severe. Heading into Friday, look for continuing rainfall and much
cooler temperatures. Highs are only expected to reach the 40s and 50s. Cooler
temperatures remain in place this weekend as high temperatures reach the upper
40s Saturday, then climb into the 50s for Sunday. Highs will then be in the 60s
through the first half on next week.
...Severe Storms Possible Today...
H5 upper low continues to approach southeastern North Dakota this afternoon.
Soundings indicate the presence of CAPE values ranging from 1500 J/Kg to 2500 J/Kg.
Low level shear, both in the 0-1km and 0-3km layers looks supportive of low top
supercells or cluster/supercell hybrid mode. As such, the risk for brief tornadoes
and hail up to 1 inch is worth a mention. Additionally, funnels are possible as the
upper low passes through the area.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1251 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected to
continue moving through the region today, primarily from south
to north. MVFR to IFR visibility, strong and erratic wind gusts,
and possibly MVFR ceilings can be expected with the strongest
storms today. Later this afternoon into tonight, low ceilings
are forecast to spread across the area from southwest to
northeast, mostly IFR west of KGFK and KFAR, and MVFR elsewhere.
Winds will mostly be out of the southeast to northeast around
10-20 kts through the forecast period, strongest this afternoon.
&&
.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...Wind Advisory from 7 AM Friday to 1 AM CDT Saturday for
NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054.
MN...Wind Advisory from 7 AM Friday to 1 AM CDT Saturday for
MNZ001>004-007.
&&
DISCUSSION...Lynch
AVIATION...ZH/HollanHazardous weather outlook, May 15, 2:16 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Forks ND Issued by National Weather Service Bismarck ND 216 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 MNZ004-007-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>029-054-161930- Kittson-West Marshall-Towner-Cavalier-Pembina-Benson-Ramsey- Eastern Walsh-Eddy-Nelson-Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Western Walsh- 216 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Minnesota, northeast North Dakota, and southeast North Dakota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Friday...A Wind Advisory is in effect from 7 AM Friday to 1 AM CDT Saturday. Saturday night...Frost risk. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. MNZ029>032-040-161930- Wilkin-West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant- 216 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Minnesota and west central Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A Tornado Watch is in effect until 8 PM CDT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Saturday night...Frost risk. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. MNZ015>017-022-023-027-161930- East Polk-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-Mahnomen- South Clearwater-West Becker- 216 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Minnesota and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight There is a Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon. Expected hazards include hail up to the size of quarters, wind gusts to 60 mph, and a tornado or two. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Saturday night...Frost risk. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. MNZ005-006-008-009-013-014-161930- Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington- Red Lake- 216 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Minnesota and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Saturday night...Frost risk. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. MNZ024-028-161930- Hubbard-East Becker- 216 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Minnesota and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight There is a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon. Expected hazards include hail up to the size of quarters, wind gusts to 60 mph, and a tornado or two. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Saturday night...Frost risk. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. MNZ001>003-NDZ030-038-039-049-052-053-161930- West Polk-Norman-Clay-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-Richland- 216 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Minnesota, west central Minnesota, and southeast North Dakota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight There is a Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon. Expected hazards include hail up to the size of quarters, wind gusts to 60 mph, and a tornado or two. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Friday...A Wind Advisory is in effect from 7 AM Friday to 1 AM CDT Saturday. Saturday night...Frost risk. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Grand Forks, ND issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 1:35 PM CDT | Wind Advisory | FGF | Clay, Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk | 35 hr |
| May 15, 2:49 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FGF | Wadena | 41 min |
| May 15, 3:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FGF | Pennington, Polk, Red Lake | 60 min |
| May 15, 3:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FGF | Becker, Clay, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman | 35 min |
| May 15, 4:04 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FGF | Beltrami, Kittson, Marshall, Pennington, Roseau | 41 min |
| May 15, 4:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FGF | Becker, Clay, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk | 50 min |
| May 15, 4:33 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FGF | Polk | 42 min |
| May 15, 4:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FGF | Kittson, Marshall, Roseau | 62 min |
| May 15, 5:17 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FGF | Polk | 28 min |
| May 15, 5:43 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FGF | Marshall, Roseau | 32 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2025Every tornado warning in 2025Tornadoes in 2025
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.