Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 13, NWS Twin Cities, MN
NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at May 17, 2026, 9:36 PM CDT for Faribault County, Martin County, Minnesota. It was in force for 39 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 17, 2026, 9:36 PM CDT (02:36 UTC)
- Expired
- May 17, 2026, 10:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 39 min
- Issued by
- NWS Twin Cities, MN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.0 in
Counties Faribault County, MN, Martin County, MN
The radar
The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 157 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:36 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 9:36 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sw Ceylon, MN | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Trees down on Clear Lake, with storage shed blown into the Lake. |
| May 17, 9:37 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Ceylon, MN | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Three large trees down in the town of Ceylon. |
| May 17, 9:44 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 4 S Fairmont, MN | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Large cottonwood tree snapped with damage to fence. |
| May 17, 10:10 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 N Frost, MN | Delayed photo report of tree damage shared by broadcast media. Several large branches snapped from base of tree. Time estimated by 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 6:12 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 2.6 hours before the alert went out and 156 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
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1101 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 42 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 154 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 237 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
012
WFUS53 KMPX 180236
TORMPX
MNC043-091-180315-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0013.260518T0236Z-260518T0315Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
936 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southwestern Faribault County in south central Minnesota...
Southern Martin County in south central Minnesota...
* Until 1015 PM CDT.
* At 936 PM CDT, a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing
tornadoes was located along a line from 7 miles southwest of
Sherburn to 19 miles southwest of Elmore in northern Iowa, moving
northeast at 55 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 tornado will be near...
Ceylon around 940 PM CDT.
Fairmont and Welcome around 945 PM CDT.
Elmore around 955 PM CDT.
Blue Earth around 1000 PM CDT.
Frost around 1005 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by the tornado include Wilbert, Dunnell,
East Chain, Fairmont Airport and Imogene.
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 4350 9483 4351 9485 4357 9485 4370 9453
4375 9404 4368 9382 4350 9381
TIME...MOT...LOC 0235Z 244DEG 46KT 4356 9479 4346 9447 4328 9432
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
MPG3 follow-up statements
935
WWUS53 KMPX 180247
SVSMPX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
947 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
MNC043-091-180315-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260518T0315Z/
Faribault MN-Martin MN-
947 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN FARIBAULT AND SOUTHERN MARTIN COUNTIES...
At 947 PM CDT, a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing
tornadoes and 70 mph wind gusts was located along a line from over
Welcome to 12 miles south of Elmore, moving northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This tornado will be near...
Fairmont and Welcome around 950 PM CDT.
Elmore around 955 PM CDT.
Blue Earth around 1000 PM CDT.
Frost around 1005 PM CDT.
Bricelyn around 1010 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by the tornado include East Chain, Fairmont
Airport, Imogene, Guckeen and Granada.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself
from flying debris.
This storm has a history of producing tornadoes.
&&
LAT...LON 4350 9483 4351 9485 4357 9485 4370 9453
4375 9404 4368 9382 4350 9381
TIME...MOT...LOC 0236Z 244DEG 46KT 4357 9477 4347 9445 4329 9430
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
MPG503
WWUS53 KMPX 180300
SVSMPX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1000 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
MNC043-091-180315-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260518T0315Z/
Faribault MN-Martin MN-
1000 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN FARIBAULT AND EAST CENTRAL MARTIN COUNTIES...
At 1000 PM CDT, a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing
tornadoes and 70 mph wind gusts were located along a line from near
Winnebago to 16 miles south of Bricelyn, moving northeast at 60 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 tornado will be near...
Bricelyn, Frost and Blue Earth around 1005 PM CDT.
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 4350 9426 4371 9445 4375 9404 4368 9382
4350 9381
TIME...MOT...LOC 0247Z 227DEG 52KT 4360 9441 4340 9402 4322 9390
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
MPG442
WWUS53 KMPX 180311
SVSMPX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1011 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
MNC043-091-180321-
/O.EXP.KMPX.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260518T0315Z/
Faribault MN-Martin MN-
1011 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...TORNADO WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1015 PM CDT FOR SOUTHWESTERN
FARIBAULT AND EAST CENTRAL MARTIN COUNTIES...
The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However, gusty
winds and heavy rain are still possible with these thunderstorms.
A Tornado Warning still remains in effect for eastern Faribault
county until 1045 pm.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT Monday for a
portion of south central Minnesota.
&&
LAT...LON 4350 9381 4350 9426 4371 9445 4375 9404
4368 9382
TIME...MOT...LOC 0300Z 227DEG 52KT 4373 9422 4353 9383 4335 9371
$$
MPGThe office that day
Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 7:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Brown, Watonwan | 49 min |
| May 17, 7:12 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MPX | Blue Earth, Martin, Watonwan | 33 min |
| May 17, 7:32 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Martin, Watonwan | 58 min |
| May 17, 7:40 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MPX | Faribault, Martin | 35 min |
| May 17, 7:40 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MPX | Martin, Watonwan | 24 min |
| May 17, 7:48 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MPX | Blue Earth, Martin, Watonwan | 42 min |
| May 17, 8:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Blue Earth, Faribault, Martin | 50 min |
| May 17, 8:49 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Blue Earth, Faribault, Freeborn, Waseca | 43 min |
| May 17, 9:19 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Blue Earth, Faribault, Martin, Watonwan | 56 min |
| May 17, 9:52 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MPX | Faribault, Freeborn | 53 min |
| May 17, 10:33 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Freeborn | 27 min |
| May 17, 11:26 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Goodhue | 34 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.