Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2025

Tornado Warning 20, NWS Twin Cities, MN

May 15, 2025Mille Lacs County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at May 15, 2025, 3:06 PM CDT for Mille Lacs County, Minnesota. It was in force for 24 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, 3:06 PM CDT (20:06 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 2025, 3:30 PM CDT
In force
24 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

County Mille Lacs County, MN

The radar

The Duluth radar (KDLH), 134 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:06 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 15, 12:46 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 143 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 2025-05-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 515 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2025-05-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 148 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

802 
WFUS53 KMPX 152006
TORMPX
MNC095-152030-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0020.250515T2006Z-250515T2030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
306 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  North Central Mille Lacs County in east central Minnesota...

* Until 330 PM CDT.

* At 306 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a 
  tornado was located near Onamia, or 36 miles east of Little Falls, 
  moving north at 55 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
  Onamia, Vineland, Lake Mille Lacs, Bayview, Mille Lacs Kathio 
  State Park and Rum River State Forest.

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 4606 9356 4606 9371 4624 9377 4625 9354
TIME...MOT...LOC 2006Z 177DEG 46KT 4611 9364

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

$$

BED
3 follow-up statements
346 
WWUS53 KMPX 152016
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
316 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

MNC095-152030-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-250515T2030Z/
Mille Lacs MN-
316 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 PM CDT FOR NORTH 
CENTRAL MILLE LACS COUNTY...

At 316 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located 6 miles northeast of Vineland, or 38 miles northeast of 
Little Falls, moving north at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
  Vineland, Lake Mille Lacs and Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.

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 4613 9355 4612 9373 4624 9377 4625 9365
      4625 9354
TIME...MOT...LOC 2006Z 175DEG 37KT 4612 9364

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

$$

BED
056 
WWUS53 KMPX 152021
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
321 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

MNC095-152030-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-250515T2030Z/
Mille Lacs MN-
321 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 PM CDT FOR NORTH 
CENTRAL MILLE LACS COUNTY...

At 321 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located 7 miles northeast of Vineland, or 38 miles northeast of 
Little Falls, moving north at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
  Vineland and Lake Mille Lacs.

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 4619 9359 4617 9375 4624 9377 4624 9372
      4625 9364 4625 9358
TIME...MOT...LOC 2016Z 172DEG 31KT 4620 9366

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

$$

BED
420 
WWUS53 KMPX 152027 RRA
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
327 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

MNC095-152037-
/O.EXP.KMPX.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-250515T2030Z/
Mille Lacs MN-
327 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

...TORNADO WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 330 PM CDT FOR NORTH CENTRAL MILLE 
LACS COUNTY...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe 
limits, and has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning will 
be allowed to expire.

&&

LAT...LON 4619 9359 4617 9375 4624 9377 4624 9372
      4625 9364 4625 9358
TIME...MOT...LOC 2021Z 172DEG 31KT 4625 9367

$$

BED

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 14, 10:17 PM CDTWind AdvisoryMPXBlue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Faribault, Freeborn, Lac qui Parle and 10 more45 hr
May 15, 3:52 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXLac qui Parle, Yellow Medicine23 min
May 15, 4:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXLac qui Parle, Yellow Medicine31 min
May 15, 4:27 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXChippewa, Swift, Yellow Medicine33 min
May 15, 5:00 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXChippewa, Kandiyohi, Redwood45 min
May 15, 5:29 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXRenville31 min
May 15, 5:34 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXRedwood, Renville26 min
May 15, 6:06 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXRenville24 min
May 15, 9:23 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXIsanti37 min
May 15, 9:36 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXIsanti, Mille Lacs, Sherburne24 min
May 15, 9:58 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXIsanti17 min
May 15, 10:24 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXKanabec21 min
May 15, 12:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXLe Sueur19 min
May 15, 1:17 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXSwift28 min
May 15, 1:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott, Steele33 min
May 15, 1:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMeeker, Wright27 min
May 15, 1:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXCarver, Wright24 min
May 15, 1:37 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXPope, Stevens, Swift38 min
May 15, 1:48 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXScott10 min
May 15, 1:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Ramsey, Rice, Scott and 1 more35 min
May 15, 2:25 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXAnoka, Hennepin, Ramsey20 min
May 15, 2:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDakota, Goodhue, Ramsey, Washington44 min
May 15, 2:36 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXDouglas, Todd24 min
May 15, 2:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXAnoka, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and 3 more49 min
May 15, 2:52 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedMPXStearns, Todd23 min
May 15, 3:13 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXTodd32 min
May 15, 3:26 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXKanabec19 min
May 15, 3:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXKanabec, Mille Lacs24 min
May 15, 3:37 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXBenton, Morrison, Stearns23 min
May 15, 3:56 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXBenton, Morrison34 min
May 15, 4:22 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXMille Lacs38 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.