Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 1, NWS Sioux Falls, SD
NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this tornado warning at Apr 13, 2026, 6:21 PM CDT for Cottonwood County, Minnesota. It was in force for 39 min. 6 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
- Apr 13, 2026, 6:21 PM CDT (23:21 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 13, 2026, 7:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 39 min
- Issued by
- NWS Sioux Falls, SD
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.25 in
County Cottonwood County, MN
The radar
The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 137 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:21 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 13, 6:21 PM CDT | HAIL 2 | 4 N Windom, MN | |
| Apr 13, 6:31 PM CDT | HAIL 1.5 | 3 Se Delft, MN | |
| Apr 13, 6:40 PM CDT | HAIL 2 | 2 W Mountain Lake, MN | |
| Apr 13, 6:45 PM CDT | HAIL 1.25 | 1 S Windom, MN | |
| Apr 13, 6:46 PM CDT | HAIL 1.75 | 1 S Mountain Lake, MN | Spotter report of golf ball sized hail. |
| Apr 13, 6:50 PM CDT | HAIL 1.25 | Windom, MN |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
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 13, 4:39 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 159 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
- 8 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -259 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1506 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 45 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 124 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 229 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
742
WFUS53 KFSD 132321
TORFSD
MNC033-140000-
/O.NEW.KFSD.TO.W.0001.260413T2321Z-260414T0000Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
621 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026
The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southeastern Cottonwood County in southwestern Minnesota...
* Until 700 PM CDT.
* At 621 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Windom, moving east at 25 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.
* This dangerous storm will be near...
Windom, Mountain Lake, and Bingham Lake around 625 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid 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 4385 9518 4386 9518 4392 9519 4400 9486
4385 9486
TIME...MOT...LOC 2321Z 259DEG 23KT 4390 9512
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
IG2 follow-up statements
827
WWUS53 KFSD 132334
SVSFSD
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
634 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026
MNC033-140000-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260414T0000Z/
Cottonwood MN-
634 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN COTTONWOOD COUNTY...
At 633 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Bingham Lake, or near Windom, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This dangerous storm will be near...
Mountain Lake around 640 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 4394 9510 4400 9486 4385 9486 4385 9510
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 259DEG 23KT 4391 9502
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
IG263 WWUS53 KFSD 132355 SVSFSD Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 655 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026 MNC033-140004- /O.EXP.KFSD.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260414T0000Z/ Cottonwood MN- 655 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN COTTONWOOD COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 700 PM CDT... The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However, heavy rain is still possible with this thunderstorm. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for southwestern Minnesota. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service Sioux Falls. Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for portions of Cottonwood and Jackson counties through 715 pm. && LAT...LON 4394 9510 4400 9486 4385 9486 4385 9510 TIME...MOT...LOC 2354Z 259DEG 23KT 4393 9485 $$ IG
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 13, 2:50 PM CDT, 3 hours 31 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Thunderstorms return this afternoon and evening. Scattered strong to severe storms expected - greatest risk for southwestern Minnesota into adjacent areas of South Dakota and northwest Iowa. Timing of greatest concern is 4 to 9 PM.
- Main hazards are large hail greater than 2 inches in diameter and wind gusts to 70 mph. A tornado or two are also possible. Have a severe weather plan and multiple ways to receive warnings.
- Periodic chances (20-60%) for showers and thunderstorms continue this week. Details remain uncertain at this time.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 13, 2:50 PM CDT, 3 hours 31 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 250 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Thunderstorms return this afternoon and evening. Scattered strong to severe storms expected - greatest risk for southwestern Minnesota into adjacent areas of South Dakota and northwest Iowa. Timing of greatest concern is 4 to 9 PM. - Main hazards are large hail greater than 2 inches in diameter and wind gusts to 70 mph. A tornado or two are also possible. Have a severe weather plan and multiple ways to receive warnings. - Periodic chances (20-60%) for showers and thunderstorms continue this week. Details remain uncertain at this time. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 238 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026 Scattered thunderstorms are set to develop over the next few hours, bringing the potential for a few severe storms with large hail, damaging winds, and perhaps a tornado or two. As of 2 pm, a surface low is located over northern Nebraska with a warm front extending northeast of it across far southeastern South Dakota into northwest Iowa. Dew points in the 60s have been gradually spreading northward, and these higher dew points are expected to reach the I-90 corridor over the next couple of hours. This boundary will be the focus of initial storm development, with these storms having access to 35-50 kts of effective bulk shear and 1500-2000 J/kg of MLCAPE. There are questions though on how much some high clouds have limited the area from reaching full heating potential, but if a storm can get going then steep mid level lapse rates of 7.5-8.5 degrees C/km and mostly straight, elongated hodographs will favor large hail to around 2 inches in diameter or larger. The secondary threat will be damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph. If a storm can get rooted to the aforementioned surface warm front, then a tornado or two will also be possible. Can't rule out a strong tornado either, primarily over southwest Minnesota. As the low pressure system drift across the area, a few additional showers and storms look to develop farther south across northwest Iowa (down to about IA Highway-3, or just north of US Highway-20) within the warm sector around sunset. These storms could also be on the strong to severe side, with an isolated instance of quarter sized hail and 60 mph as the threats. Showers and storms will exit off to our east by the mid evening hours, leaving mostly quiet conditions in its wake. A few showers may develop in central South Dakota prior to daybreak Tuesday, but dry air should win out and prevent most if not all of this from reaching the ground. Patchy fog will also be possible by early Tuesday morning across portions of northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota as winds turn light and variable overnight and ample moisture remains in place. Temperatures tonight drop mainly in the 40s, though some 50s are possible in our easternmost areas. Low chances for showers continue into the day on Tuesday, but activity is expected to remain spotty at best as rain continues to battle a dry sub cloud layer. Highs will range from the 60s northwest to 70s southeast. Rain chances look to increase Tuesday night into Wednesday as two shortwave troughs impact our area. The best chances of rain and storms look to be over northwest Iowa and adjacent areas of Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota. At this time, severe weather looks unlikely with this system as the better instability looks to be off to our south and east. Rain and storms exit off to our east by Wednesday night, leading to a dry Thursday. Winds look to increase on Thursday especially west of I-29 closer to a deepening surface low, and winds may take on a southwesterly component especially in south central South Dakota. This could lead to another day with higher fire danger as temperatures will be warm and relative humidity values drop to 25% or below mainly along and west of the James River. Still some uncertainty into how breezy the winds will be, so keep up to date with the latest forecast. Not too much time to look into the extended forecast given the near term severe weather threat, but guidance is in fairly good agreement that the western trough will begin to move into our area by the end of the work week/early weekend. This could bring more rain and storms to our area on Friday and then colder weather into Saturday as guidance indicates a stronger push of cold air advection behind this system. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1241 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026 Isolated to widely scattered showers and storms are expected to develop this afternoon, especially east of I-29 into southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. Enough confidence to at least include a PROB30 group for thunderstorms at KFSD, but it looks like storms should stay largely east of KSUX and KHON. Storms will be capable of large hail and damaging winds. Showers and storms will quickly push off to our east this evening, leading to quieter conditions overnight. Some patchy fog is possible mainly over portions of northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota Tuesday morning. A frontal system will move across the area today, changing winds from a more southerly direction to a more northerly direction as we head into the evening hours. Winds turn mainly light and variable overnight and stay fairly light through the end of the period. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. IA...None. NE...None. && DISCUSSION...Samet AVIATION...Samet
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 13, 3:56 PM CDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 356 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026 IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097- 098-NEZ013-014-SDZ038>040-050-052>071-142100- Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee- Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson- Pipestone-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Gregory- Jerauld-Sanborn-Miner-Lake-Moody-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook- Minnehaha-Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Turner-Bon Homme-Yankton- Union- 356 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, west central Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, central South Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms expected Monday afternoon and evening. Some storms may produce large hail 2 inches in diameter and damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph. A tornado or two cannot be ruled out. Greatest risk of storms is north of I-90 between 4 and 10 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. More widespread chances for showers and thunderstorms exists for Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday. This more active pattern continues into the weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 13, 5:23 PM CDT, 58 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
523 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0440 PM Hail 3 S Freeman 43.31N 97.44W
04/13/2026 E1.25 Inch Hutchinson SD Public
&&
TRMLocal storm report, Apr 13, 5:30 PM CDT, 51 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
530 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0523 PM Hail Moville 42.49N 96.07W
04/13/2026 E0.50 Inch Woodbury IA Public
&&
TRMLocal storm report, Apr 13, 6:03 PM CDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
603 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0551 PM Hail Ashton 43.31N 95.79W
04/13/2026 E0.50 Inch Osceola IA Public
Report from mPING: Half-inch (0.50 in.).
&&
TRMLocal storm report, Apr 13, 6:09 PM CDT, 12 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
609 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0537 PM Hail 7 S Remsen 42.71N 95.98W
04/13/2026 E1.25 Inch Plymouth IA Public
&&
TRMLocal storm report, Apr 13, 6:15 PM CDT, 6 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
615 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0610 PM Hail 4 S Remsen 42.75N 95.96W
04/13/2026 E1.75 Inch Plymouth IA Law Enforcement
&&
TRMLocal storm report, Apr 13, 6:17 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
617 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0603 PM Hail 5 W Sioux Falls 43.53N 96.82W
04/13/2026 E0.50 Inch Minnehaha SD Public
&&
TRMThe office that day
Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 5:37 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Murray, Nobles | 53 min |
| Apr 13, 5:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles | 46 min |
| Apr 13, 6:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Cottonwood, Jackson | 48 min |
| Apr 13, 6:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Nobles, Rock | 50 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026
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.