Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

May 17, 2026Nobles County, Rock County, Minnesota

NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this tornado warning at May 17, 2026, 5:33 PM CDT for Nobles County, Rock County, Minnesota. It was in force for 42 min. 10 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 17, 2026, 5:33 PM CDT (22:33 UTC)
Expired
May 17, 2026, 6:15 PM CDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Nobles County, MN, Rock County, MN

The radar

The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 69 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:35 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 17, 5:44 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 624 Ne Adrian, MNVia personal weather station. Exact time estimated via radar.
May 17, 5:44 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 624 Ne Adrian, MNVia personal weather station. Exact time estimated via radar.
May 17, 5:48 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD3 S Lismore, MNRain wrapped funnel observed from I-90 looking north toward Lismore. Could not confirm ground contact.
May 17, 5:48 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD3 S Lismore, MNRain wrapped funnel observed from I-90 looking north toward Lismore. Could not confirm ground contact.
May 17, 5:50 PM CDTHAIL 1.51 N Adrian, MN
May 17, 5:50 PM CDTHAIL 1.51 N Adrian, MN
May 17, 5:51 PM CDTHAIL 1.75Lismore, MN
May 17, 5:51 PM CDTHAIL 1.75Lismore, MN
May 17, 6:01 PM CDTHAIL 1.25Wilmont, MNmPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.). Time estimated via radar.
May 17, 6:01 PM CDTHAIL 1.25Wilmont, MNmPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.). Time estimated via radar.

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 17, 1:42 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 223 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 2026-05-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 2026-05-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 238 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1780 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
238 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
284 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

961 
WFUS53 KFSD 172233
TORFSD
MNC105-133-172315-
/O.NEW.KFSD.TO.W.0007.260517T2233Z-260517T2315Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
533 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Rock County in southwestern Minnesota...
  Central Nobles County in southwestern Minnesota...

* Until 615 PM CDT.

* At 533 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Adrian, or 7 miles east of Luverne, moving east 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.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Adrian, Rushmore, Wilmont, and Lismore around 540 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Worthington.

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 4358 9608 4373 9611 4384 9559 4365 9552
TIME...MOT...LOC 2233Z 253DEG 37KT 4366 9606 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Weisser
2 follow-up statements
643 
WWUS53 KFSD 172244
SVSFSD

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
544 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

MNC133-172253-
/O.CAN.KFSD.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-260517T2315Z/
Rock MN-
544 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL ROCK COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning hasmoved out of 
the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for southwestern
Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4358 9606 4374 9605 4375 9603 4384 9559
      4365 9552
TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 253DEG 34KT 4369 9596 

$$

MNC105-172315-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-260517T2315Z/
Nobles MN-
544 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
NOBLES COUNTY...

At 543 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Adrian, or 13 miles east of Luverne, moving east at
40 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.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Rushmore and Wilmont around 550 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Worthington.

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 4358 9606 4374 9605 4375 9603 4384 9559
      4365 9552
TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 253DEG 34KT 4369 9596 

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

$$

Weisser
554 
WWUS53 KFSD 172253
SVSFSD

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
553 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

MNC105-172315-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-260517T2315Z/
Nobles MN-
553 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
NOBLES COUNTY...

At 553 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Wilmont, or 14 miles northwest of Worthington,
moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball 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...
  Wilmont around 600 PM CDT.

At 548 pm...A funnel cloud was reported just south of Lismore.

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 4359 9599 4376 9598 4384 9559 4365 9552
TIME...MOT...LOC 2253Z 251DEG 35KT 4372 9586 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

Weisser

The office that day

Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 17, 4:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFSDRock42 min
May 17, 4:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFSDNobles, Rock49 min
May 17, 5:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFSDMurray, Nobles, Rock62 min
May 17, 6:12 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDJackson, Nobles48 min
May 17, 6:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFSDCottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles75 min
May 17, 6:57 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDCottonwood, Jackson48 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.