Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2025

Tornado Warning 25, NWS Twin Cities, MN

May 15, 2025Benton County, Morrison County, Stearns County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at May 15, 2025, 3:37 PM CDT for Benton County, Morrison County, Stearns County, Minnesota. It was in force for 23 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, 3:37 PM CDT (20:37 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 2025, 4:00 PM CDT
In force
23 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

Counties Benton County, MN, Morrison County, MN, Stearns County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 118 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:40 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.

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, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 116 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.

449 
WFUS53 KMPX 152037
TORMPX
MNC009-097-145-152100-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0025.250515T2037Z-250515T2100Z/

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

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Western Benton County in central Minnesota...
  South Central Morrison County in central Minnesota...
  Northeastern Stearns County in central Minnesota...

* Until 400 PM CDT.

* At 337 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a 
  tornado was located near Sartell, or 11 miles northwest of St. 
  Cloud, moving north at 35 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...
  Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Royalton, Bowlus, Rice, St. Stephen, Opole 
  and St Wendel.

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 4578 9446 4590 9447 4588 9412 4564 9415
      4559 9428 4573 9445
TIME...MOT...LOC 2036Z 177DEG 31KT 4566 9428

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

$$

BED
2 follow-up statements
319 
WWUS53 KMPX 152045
SVSMPX

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

MNC009-097-145-152100-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-250515T2100Z/
Benton MN-Morrison MN-Stearns MN-
345 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CDT FOR NORTHWESTERN 
BENTON, SOUTH CENTRAL MORRISON AND NORTHEASTERN STEARNS COUNTIES...

At 345 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located over Rice, or 16 miles north of St. Cloud, moving north 
at 45 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...
  Sartell, Royalton, Bowlus, Rice and St. Stephen.

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 4590 9447 4588 9412 4565 9415 4569 9430
      4583 9446
TIME...MOT...LOC 2037Z 176DEG 36KT 4567 9427

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

$$

BED
815 
WWUS53 KMPX 152057
SVSMPX

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

MNC009-097-145-152107-
/O.EXP.KMPX.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-250515T2100Z/
Benton MN-Morrison MN-Stearns MN-
357 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

...TORNADO WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 4 PM CDT FOR NORTHWESTERN BENTON, 
SOUTH CENTRAL MORRISON AND NORTHEASTERN STEARNS COUNTIES...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe 
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado. 
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However, small 
hail and gusty winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4590 9447 4588 9412 4565 9415 4569 9430
      4583 9446
TIME...MOT...LOC 2045Z 176DEG 36KT 4576 9428

$$

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, 3:06 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXMille Lacs24 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, 3:56 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.