Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2025
Tornado Warning 14, NWS Twin Cities, MN
NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at May 15, 2025, 1:37 PM CDT for Pope County, Stevens County, Swift County, Minnesota. It was in force for 38 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 15, 2025, 1:37 PM CDT (18:37 UTC)
- Expired
- May 15, 2025, 2:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 38 min
- Issued by
- NWS Twin Cities, MN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.0 in
Counties Pope County, MN, Stevens County, MN, Swift County, MN
The radar
The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 174 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:40 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 15, 1:38 PM CDT | TORNADO | 1 W Benson, MN | Debris visible. |
| May 15, 1:40 PM CDT | TORNADO | 2 N Benson, MN | debris reported. |
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 15, 12:46 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 6.6 hours before the alert went out and 172 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.
034
WFUS53 KMPX 151837
TORMPX
MNC121-149-151-151915-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0014.250515T1837Z-250515T1915Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
137 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southwestern Pope County in west central Minnesota...
Southeastern Stevens County in west central Minnesota...
Eastern Swift County in west central Minnesota...
* Until 215 PM CDT.
* At 137 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a
tornado was located near Benson, or 24 miles northeast of
Montevideo, 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...
Morris, Benson, Starbuck, Hancock, Kerkhoven, Cyrus, Murdock, Lake
Hassel, Gilchrist, Clontarf, De Graff, Danvers, Lake Emily, Benson
Airport, Glacial Lakes State Park, Swift Falls and Lake Minnewaska.
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 4541 9588 4566 9590 4560 9530 4515 9530
4515 9544 4531 9587
TIME...MOT...LOC 1836Z 171DEG 36KT 4526 9553
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN
$$
BED3 follow-up statements
273
WWUS53 KMPX 151846
SVSMPX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
146 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
MNC121-149-151-151915-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-250515T1915Z/
Pope MN-Stevens MN-Swift MN-
146 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN POPE, SOUTHEASTERN STEVENS AND NORTHEASTERN SWIFT
COUNTIES...
At 146 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Lake Hassel, or
22 miles southeast of Morris, moving north at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado.
SOURCE...Two trained spotter reports confirmed tornado with
debris west, north, and east of Benson.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
Locations impacted include...
Morris, Benson, Starbuck, Hancock, Kerkhoven, Cyrus, Murdock, Lake
Hassel, Gilchrist, Clontarf, De Graff, Lake Emily, Glacial Lakes
State Park, Swift Falls, Benson Airport and Lake Minnewaska.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built
building away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home,
or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 4541 9588 4566 9590 4560 9530 4518 9530
4529 9559
TIME...MOT...LOC 1837Z 172DEG 42KT 4529 9555
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN
$$
BED865
WWUS53 KMPX 151857
SVSMPX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
157 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
MNC121-149-151-151915-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-250515T1915Z/
Pope MN-Stevens MN-Swift MN-
157 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN POPE, EAST CENTRAL STEVENS AND NORTHEASTERN SWIFT
COUNTIES...
At 157 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 8 miles southwest of Starbuck, or 16 miles east of
Morris, moving north 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.
Locations impacted include...
Morris, Starbuck, Hancock, Cyrus, Gilchrist, Glacial Lakes State
Park, Lake Emily, Lake Minnewaska and Swift Falls.
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 4566 9590 4560 9530 4531 9530 4553 9589
TIME...MOT...LOC 1846Z 173DEG 46KT 4538 9558
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN
$$
BED600 WWUS53 KMPX 151915 SVSMPX Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 215 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 MNC121-149-151-151925- /O.EXP.KMPX.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-250515T1915Z/ Pope MN-Stevens MN-Swift MN- 215 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 ...TORNADO WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR SOUTHWESTERN POPE, EAST CENTRAL STEVENS AND NORTHEASTERN SWIFT COUNTIES... The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area. Therefore, the warning has been allowed to expire. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT Thursday for a portion of west central Minnesota. && LAT...LON 4566 9590 4560 9530 4531 9530 4553 9589 TIME...MOT...LOC 1857Z 173DEG 46KT 4552 9560 $$ BED
The office that day
Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 10:17 PM CDT | Wind Advisory | MPX | Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Faribault, Freeborn, Lac qui Parle and 10 more | 45 hr |
| May 15, 3:52 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Lac qui Parle, Yellow Medicine | 23 min |
| May 15, 4:14 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Lac qui Parle, Yellow Medicine | 31 min |
| May 15, 4:27 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Chippewa, Swift, Yellow Medicine | 33 min |
| May 15, 5:00 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Redwood | 45 min |
| May 15, 5:29 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Renville | 31 min |
| May 15, 5:34 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Redwood, Renville | 26 min |
| May 15, 6:06 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Renville | 24 min |
| May 15, 9:23 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Isanti | 37 min |
| May 15, 9:36 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Isanti, Mille Lacs, Sherburne | 24 min |
| May 15, 9:58 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Isanti | 17 min |
| May 15, 10:24 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Kanabec | 21 min |
| May 15, 12:56 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Le Sueur | 19 min |
| May 15, 1:17 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MPX | Swift | 28 min |
| May 15, 1:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott, Steele | 33 min |
| May 15, 1:33 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Meeker, Wright | 27 min |
| May 15, 1:36 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Carver, Wright | 24 min |
| May 15, 1:48 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MPX | Scott | 10 min |
| May 15, 1:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Ramsey, Rice, Scott and 1 more | 35 min |
| May 15, 2:25 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MPX | Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey | 20 min |
| May 15, 2:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Dakota, Goodhue, Ramsey, Washington | 44 min |
| May 15, 2:36 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Douglas, Todd | 24 min |
| May 15, 2:41 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Anoka, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and 3 more | 49 min |
| May 15, 2:52 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MPX | Stearns, Todd | 23 min |
| May 15, 3:06 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MPX | Mille Lacs | 24 min |
| May 15, 3:13 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Todd | 32 min |
| May 15, 3:26 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Kanabec | 19 min |
| May 15, 3:34 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Kanabec, Mille Lacs | 24 min |
| May 15, 3:37 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MPX | Benton, Morrison, Stearns | 23 min |
| May 15, 3:56 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Benton, Morrison | 34 min |
| May 15, 4:22 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Mille Lacs | 38 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.