Alert archive / Wisconsin / Tornado Warnings in 2025

Tornado Warning 23, NWS Twin Cities, MN

May 15, 2025Polk County, Saint Croix County, Wisconsin

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at May 15, 2025, 3:25 PM CDT for Polk County, Saint Croix County, Wisconsin. It was in force for 35 min. 4 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, 3:25 PM CDT (20:25 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 2025, 4:00 PM CDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

Counties Polk County, WI, Saint Croix County, WI

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:27 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 15, 3:30 PM CDTTORNADO3 N Roberts, WIDeputy reported a tornado on the ground north of Roberts along 110th.
May 15, 3:30 PM CDTTORNADO3 Nw Hammond, WITornado on the ground 4-5 miles north of house moving NNE.
May 15, 3:34 PM CDTTORNADO7 S Deer Park, WISent photo of ongoing tornado.
May 15, 3:40 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 Sse Star Prairie, WIDelayed report, time estimated from radar. Part of a roof blown off a shed.

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 15, 12:46 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 96 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°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.

480 
WFUS53 KMPX 152025
TORMPX
WIC095-109-152100-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0023.250515T2025Z-250515T2100Z/

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

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Polk County in northwestern Wisconsin...
  Northeastern St. Croix County in west central Wisconsin...

* Until 400 PM CDT.

* At 325 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a 
  tornado was located 5 miles north of Hammond, or 15 miles 
  northeast of River Falls, moving northeast 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...
  New Richmond, Roberts, Clear Lake, Star Prairie, Forest, Cylon, 
  Deer Park, New Richmond Airport, Huntington, Houlton and Boardman.

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 4521 9261 4531 9261 4527 9216 4521 9216
      4496 9250 4500 9262
TIME...MOT...LOC 2025Z 216DEG 29KT 4504 9247

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

$$

Dye
3 follow-up statements
042 
WWUS53 KMPX 152030
SVSMPX

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

WIC095-109-152100-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-250515T2100Z/
Polk WI-St. Croix WI-
330 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CDT FOR SOUTHEASTERN 
POLK AND NORTHEASTERN ST. CROIX COUNTIES...

At 330 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located 6 miles southeast of 
New Richmond, or 18 miles northeast of River Falls, moving northeast 
at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Law enforcement confirmed tornado north of Roberts.

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...
  New Richmond, Clear Lake, Star Prairie, Cylon, Deer Park, New 
  Richmond Airport, Huntington, Houlton and Boardman.

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 4521 9261 4531 9261 4527 9216 4521 9216
      4500 9246 4505 9262
TIME...MOT...LOC 2025Z 216DEG 29KT 4505 9247

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

Dye
818 
WWUS53 KMPX 152044
SVSMPX

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

WIC109-152054-
/O.CAN.KMPX.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-250515T2100Z/
St. Croix WI-
344 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

...TORNADO WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHEASTERN ST. CROIX COUNTY...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area. 
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4531 9261 4527 9216 4521 9216 4521 9261
TIME...MOT...LOC 2030Z 216DEG 29KT 4508 9243

$$


WIC095-152100-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-250515T2100Z/
Polk WI-
344 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CDT FOR SOUTHEASTERN 
POLK COUNTY...

At 344 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located 7 miles southwest of Clear Lake, or 25 miles northeast 
of River Falls, moving northeast 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...
  Clear Lake and Star Prairie.

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.

This storm has a history of producing tornadoes.

&&

LAT...LON 4531 9261 4527 9216 4521 9216 4521 9261
TIME...MOT...LOC 2030Z 216DEG 29KT 4508 9243

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

$$

Dye
498 
WWUS53 KMPX 152059
SVSMPX

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

WIC095-152109-
/O.EXP.KMPX.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-250515T2100Z/
Polk WI-
359 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

...TORNADO WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 4 PM CDT FOR SOUTHEASTERN POLK 
COUNTY...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area. 
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. A Tornado Warning 
still remains in effect for northern Polk county.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for a portion of 
northwest Wisconsin.

&&

LAT...LON 4531 9261 4527 9216 4521 9216 4521 9261
TIME...MOT...LOC 2044Z 217DEG 29KT 4517 9234

$$

JRB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 15, 1:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXPierce35 min
May 15, 2:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXPepin, Pierce, Saint Croix44 min
May 15, 2:53 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXPierce22 min
May 15, 3:01 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXDunn, Pepin, Pierce14 min
May 15, 3:07 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXSaint Croix23 min
May 15, 3:15 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXDunn, Pepin, Pierce30 min
May 15, 3:30 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXChippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin30 min
May 15, 3:41 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXDunn20 min
May 15, 3:49 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXPolk26 min
May 15, 3:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBarron, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Rusk47 min
May 15, 4:05 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXChippewa, Eau Claire25 min
May 15, 4:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBarron, Polk29 min
May 15, 4:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBarron, Chippewa, Eau Claire, Rusk47 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Wisconsin, 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.