Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 8, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

May 17, 2026Jackson County, Nobles County, Minnesota

NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this tornado warning at May 17, 2026, 6:12 PM CDT for Jackson County, Nobles County, Minnesota. It was in force for 48 min. 9 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, 6:12 PM CDT (23:12 UTC)
Expired
May 17, 2026, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Jackson County, MN, Nobles County, MN

The radar

The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 99 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:15 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, 6:15 PM CDTTORNADO3 Sw Worthington, MNUnconfirmed report of tornado approximately 1 mile southwest of Worthington. Debris currently being observed.
May 17, 6:15 PM CDTTORNADO3 Sw Worthington, MNUnconfirmed report of tornado approximately 1 mile southwest of Worthington. Debris currently being observed.
May 17, 6:18 PM CDTHAIL 15 Sw Worthington, MNReport from mPING: Time estimated via radar.
May 17, 6:18 PM CDTHAIL 15 Sw Worthington, MNReport from mPING: Time estimated via radar.
May 17, 6:26 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 552 Ene Worthington, MNAWOS station KOTG Worthington Airport.
May 17, 6:26 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 552 Ene Worthington, MNAWOS station KOTG Worthington Airport.
May 17, 6:26 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 592 Nne Worthington, MNVia personal weather station. Exact time estimated via radar.
May 17, 6:26 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 592 Nne Worthington, MNVia personal weather station. Exact time estimated via radar.
May 17, 6:56 PM CDTHAIL 12 Nw Okabena, MNIn addition to hail up to the size of quarters, winds gusted up about 40 mph and a quick heavy rain occurred. No damage was noticed.

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, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 200 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.

034 
WFUS53 KFSD 172312
TORFSD
MNC063-105-180000-
/O.NEW.KFSD.TO.W.0008.260517T2312Z-260518T0000Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Western Jackson County in southwestern Minnesota...
  Eastern Nobles County in southwestern Minnesota...

* Until 700 PM CDT.

* At 612 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing a tornado
  were located along a line extending from 6 miles east of Wilmont to
  near Worthington, moving northeast 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.

* These dangerous storms will be near...
  Worthington around 615 PM CDT.
  Brewster around 625 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of these tornadic storms include Heron
Lake.

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 4352 9570 4382 9573 4385 9533 4384 9532
      4356 9526
TIME...MOT...LOC 2312Z 233DEG 30KT 4374 9571 4358 9569 

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

$$

Weisser
3 follow-up statements
681 
WWUS53 KFSD 172318
SVSFSD

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

MNC063-105-180000-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-260518T0000Z/
Jackson MN-Nobles MN-
618 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR WESTERN
JACKSON AND EASTERN NOBLES COUNTIES...

At 617 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes
were located along a line extending from 8 miles south of Fulda to
near Worthington, moving northeast at 35 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.

These dangerous storms will be near...
  Worthington and Brewster around 625 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of these tornadic storms include Heron
Lake.

At 615 pm...A trained spotter reported a possible tornado just 
southwest of 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 4352 9570 4382 9573 4385 9533 4384 9532
      4356 9526
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 235DEG 32KT 4376 9564 4360 9562 

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

$$

Weisser
962 
WWUS53 KFSD 172335
SVSFSD

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

MNC063-105-180000-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-260518T0000Z/
Jackson MN-Nobles MN-
635 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR WESTERN
JACKSON AND EASTERN NOBLES COUNTIES...

At 635 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Brewster, or near Worthington, moving east at 30
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...
  Brewster.

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 4353 9558 4380 9556 4385 9533 4384 9532
      4356 9526
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 259DEG 28KT 4364 9546 

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

$$

Weisser
090 
WWUS53 KFSD 172343
SVSFSD

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

MNC105-172352-
/O.CAN.KFSD.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-260518T0000Z/
Nobles MN-
643 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN NOBLES COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved 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 4355 9545 4382 9545 4385 9533 4384 9532
      4356 9526
TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 255DEG 28KT 4367 9538 

$$

MNC063-180000-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-260518T0000Z/
Jackson MN-
643 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR WESTERN
JACKSON COUNTY...

At 642 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Brewster, or 11 miles east of Worthington, moving
east 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.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Heron Lake around 645 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 4355 9545 4382 9545 4385 9533 4384 9532
      4356 9526
TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 255DEG 28KT 4367 9538 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 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, 5:33 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDNobles, Rock42 min
May 17, 5:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFSDMurray, Nobles, Rock62 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.