Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 14, NWS Twin Cities, MN
NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at May 17, 2026, 9:52 PM CDT for Faribault County, Freeborn County, Minnesota. It was in force for 53 min. 7 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, 9:52 PM CDT (02:52 UTC)
- Expired
- May 17, 2026, 10:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 53 min
- Issued by
- NWS Twin Cities, MN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.0 in
Counties Faribault County, MN, Freeborn County, MN
The radar
The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 135 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:55 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, 10:12 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Bricelyn, MN | Delayed photo report of tree damage shared by broadcast media. Large branch snapped from base of tree. Time estimated by radar. |
| May 17, 10:18 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sw Conger, MN | Delayed report, possible tornado start. Exterior garage wall blown out. |
| May 17, 10:18 PM CDT | TORNADO | 2 Sw Conger, MN | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Damage to out buildings, and swirls in farm field match up with other reports. Possible tornado start. |
| May 17, 10:20 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 N Conger, MN | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Damage to trees and partial roof damage to a house. Possible end point of a tornado that started southwest of Conger. |
| May 17, 10:28 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Se Glenville, MN | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Large tree down. |
| May 17, 10:29 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ese Glenville, MN | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Partial machine shed destroyed. Possible tornado. |
| May 17, 10:29 PM CDT | TORNADO | 2 Ese Glenville, MN | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Damage in line QLCS tornado, supported by radar signature and near storm environment. |
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, 2.9 hours before the alert went out and 135 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.
101
WFUS53 KMPX 180252
TORMPX
MNC043-047-180345-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0014.260518T0252Z-260518T0345Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
952 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southeastern Faribault County in south central Minnesota...
Freeborn County in south central Minnesota...
* Until 1045 PM CDT.
* At 952 PM CDT, a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing
tornadoes and 70 mph wind gusts was located along a line from over
Elmore to Britt 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...
Bricelyn around 1010 PM CDT.
Emmons, Mansfield, Wells and Alden around 1020 PM CDT.
Twin Lakes and Conger around 1025 PM CDT.
Freeborn and Albert Lea around 1030 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by the tornado include Kiester, Walters,
Brush Creek, Baroda and Albert Lea Airport.
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.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4350 9383 4365 9386 4373 9401 4377 9374
4380 9323 4366 9308 4361 9305 4350 9305
TIME...MOT...LOC 0251Z 236DEG 46KT 4349 9414 4329 9389 4308 9377
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
MPG2 follow-up statements
794
WWUS53 KMPX 180319
SVSMPX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1019 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
MNC043-047-180345-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-260518T0345Z/
Faribault MN-Freeborn MN-
1019 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN FARIBAULT AND FREEBORN COUNTIES...
At 1019 PM CDT, a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing
tornadoes and wind gusts to 70 mph was located along a line from over
Wells to 14 miles southeast of Emmons, moving northeast at 60 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This tornado will be near...
Alden, Twin Lakes, Conger, Wells and Emmons around 1020 PM CDT.
Albert Lea and Freeborn around 1025 PM CDT.
Glenville and Hayward around 1030 PM CDT.
Clarks Grove around 1035 PM CDT.
Hollandale and London around 1040 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by the tornado include Baroda, Manchester,
Myre Big Island State Park, Albert Lea Airport and Myrtle.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself
from flying debris.
This storm has a history of producing tornadoes.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4351 9371 4363 9378 4369 9394 4373 9401
4377 9374 4380 9323 4366 9308 4361 9305
4350 9305
TIME...MOT...LOC 0252Z 232DEG 50KT 4353 9410 4333 9385 4312 9373
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
MPG330
WWUS53 KMPX 180342
SVSMPX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1042 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
MNC043-047-180352-
/O.EXP.KMPX.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-260518T0345Z/
Faribault MN-Freeborn MN-
1042 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...TORNADO WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1045 PM CDT FOR SOUTHEASTERN
FARIBAULT AND FREEBORN 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 Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for eastern
Freeborn county until 11 PM.
&&
LAT...LON 4351 9371 4363 9378 4369 9394 4373 9401
4377 9374 4380 9323 4366 9308 4361 9305
4350 9305
TIME...MOT...LOC 0319Z 232DEG 50KT 4376 9370 4356 9344 4335 9333
$$
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, 9:36 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MPX | Faribault, Martin | 39 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.