Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2025

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Twin Cities, MN

April 28, 2025Meeker County, Stearns County, Wright County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at Apr 28, 2025, 3:39 PM CDT for Meeker County, Stearns County, Wright County, Minnesota. It was in force for 36 min. 1 report 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: Apr 28, 2025, 3:39 PM CDT (20:39 UTC)
Expired: Apr 28, 2025, 4:15 PM CDT
In force: 36 min
Issued by: NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.25 in

Counties Meeker County, MN, Stearns County, MN, Wright County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:41 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
Apr 28, 4:06 PM CDT	HAIL 1	3 Se Luxemburg, MN	Time estimated via radar. Photo measurement provided.

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
Apr 28, 12:29 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	10 hr
Apr 28, 3:27 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 77 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 592 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 323 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 334 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

358 
WFUS53 KMPX 282039
TORMPX
MNC093-145-171-282115-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0001.250428T2039Z-250428T2115Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
339 PM CDT Mon Apr 28 2025

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northeastern Meeker County in central Minnesota...
  Southeastern Stearns County in central Minnesota...
  Northwestern Wright County in central Minnesota...

* Until 415 PM CDT.

* At 339 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a 
  tornado was located 6 miles north of Litchfield, or 24 miles north 
  of Hutchinson, moving northeast at 50 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar size hail.

  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...
  St. Cloud, Litchfield, Waite Park, Rockville, Clearwater, Watkins, 
  Kimball, Forest City, Luxemburg, South Haven, St Nicholas, 
  Fairhaven, Pleasant Lake, St Augusta and Litchfield Airport.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built 
building away from 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 4555 9424 4546 9410 4545 9410 4545 9408
      4544 9408 4544 9407 4543 9406 4543 9405
      4542 9405 4541 9403 4540 9400 4511 9455
      4522 9465
TIME...MOT...LOC 2039Z 226DEG 41KT 4522 9453

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN

$$

BPH

3 follow-up statements

980 
WWUS53 KMPX 282051
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
351 PM CDT Mon Apr 28 2025

MNC093-145-171-282115-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-250428T2115Z/
Meeker MN-Stearns MN-Wright MN-
351 PM CDT Mon Apr 28 2025

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CDT FOR 
NORTHEASTERN MEEKER, SOUTHEASTERN STEARNS AND NORTHWESTERN WRIGHT 
COUNTIES...

At 351 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located over Watkins, or 20 miles southwest of St. Cloud, moving 
northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball size hail.

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...
  St. Cloud, Waite Park, Rockville, Clearwater, Watkins, Kimball, 
  Forest City, Luxemburg, South Haven, Fairhaven, St Nicholas, St 
  Augusta and Pleasant Lake.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built 
building away from 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 4555 9424 4546 9410 4545 9410 4545 9408
      4544 9408 4543 9405 4542 9405 4540 9402
      4540 9400 4516 9445 4526 9460
TIME...MOT...LOC 2039Z 228DEG 39KT 4520 9452

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

BPH

999 
WWUS53 KMPX 282103
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
403 PM CDT Mon Apr 28 2025

MNC093-282113-
/O.CAN.KMPX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-250428T2115Z/
Meeker MN-
403 PM CDT Mon Apr 28 2025

...TORNADO WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHEASTERN MEEKER COUNTY...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area. 
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. However, gusty winds and 
heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for a portion of 
central Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4528 9426 4528 9438 4533 9438 4533 9447
      4555 9424 4546 9410 4545 9410 4545 9408
      4544 9408 4543 9405 4542 9405 4540 9402
      4540 9400 4527 9426
TIME...MOT...LOC 2051Z 228DEG 39KT 4528 9438

$$


MNC145-171-282115-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-250428T2115Z/
Stearns MN-Wright MN-
403 PM CDT Mon Apr 28 2025

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CDT FOR 
SOUTHEASTERN STEARNS AND NORTHWESTERN WRIGHT COUNTIES...

At 403 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located over Kimball, or 15 miles south of St. Cloud, moving 
northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

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...
  St. Cloud, Waite Park, Clearwater, Kimball, Luxemburg, South 
  Haven, St Augusta, Fairhaven and Pleasant Lake.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built 
building away from 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 4528 9426 4528 9438 4533 9438 4533 9447
      4555 9424 4546 9410 4545 9410 4545 9408
      4544 9408 4543 9405 4542 9405 4540 9402
      4540 9400 4527 9426
TIME...MOT...LOC 2051Z 230DEG 37KT 4525 9439

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

BPH

470 
WWUS53 KMPX 282115
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
415 PM CDT Mon Apr 28 2025

MNC145-171-282125-
/O.EXP.KMPX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-250428T2115Z/
Stearns MN-Wright MN-
415 PM CDT Mon Apr 28 2025

...TORNADO WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR SOUTHEASTERN STEARNS AND 
NORTHWESTERN WRIGHT COUNTIES...

The Tornado Warning that was previously in effect has been reissued 
for Stearns and Wright Counties and is in effect until 445 PM CDT. 
Please refer to that bulletin for the latest severe weather 
information. However, small hail, gusty winds, and heavy rain are 
still possible with this thunderstorm.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement 
agency. They will send your report to the National Weather Service 
office.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT Monday for a 
portion of central Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4528 9426 4528 9438 4533 9438 4533 9447
      4555 9424 4546 9410 4545 9410 4545 9408
      4544 9408 4543 9405 4542 9405 4540 9402
      4540 9400 4527 9426
TIME...MOT...LOC 2103Z 230DEG 37KT 4533 9426

$$

BPH

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 28, 7:44 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MPX	Wright	31 min
Apr 28, 8:18 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MPX	Wright	27 min
Apr 28, 8:28 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MPX	Kandiyohi	32 min
Apr 28, 9:24 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MPX	Ramsey, Washington	36 min
Apr 28, 3:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Brown, Watonwan	36 min
Apr 28, 3:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Blue Earth, Brown, Nicollet, Watonwan	45 min
Apr 28, 3:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Martin	67 min
Apr 28, 4:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Benton, Morrison, Stearns	35 min
Apr 28, 4:14 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MPX	Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright	31 min
Apr 28, 4:24 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	MPX	Blue Earth, Faribault, Martin	36 min
Apr 28, 4:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott, Waseca	37 min
Apr 28, 4:43 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MPX	Benton, Isanti, Mille Lacs, Sherburne	22 min
Apr 28, 4:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Blue Earth, Faribault, Freeborn, Martin, Waseca	38 min
Apr 28, 5:00 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	MPX	Blue Earth, Faribault, Waseca	45 min
Apr 28, 5:20 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MPX	Le Sueur, Rice, Steele, Waseca	25 min
Apr 28, 5:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Blue Earth, Faribault, Freeborn, Martin, Steele, Waseca	46 min
Apr 28, 5:41 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MPX	Steele	19 min
Apr 28, 5:44 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MPX	Goodhue, Rice	31 min
Apr 28, 5:56 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MPX	Goodhue, Rice, Steele	34 min
Apr 28, 6:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Goodhue, Rice, Steele	45 min
Apr 28, 6:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Faribault, Freeborn, Steele, Waseca	45 min
Apr 28, 6:24 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MPX	Faribault, Freeborn	36 min
Apr 28, 6:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Goodhue	47 min
Apr 28, 6:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Faribault, Freeborn, Steele	34 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2025 Every tornado warning in 2025 Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.