Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Twin Cities, MN

April 13, 2026Blue Earth County, Martin County, Watonwan County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at Apr 13, 2026, 5:58 PM CDT for Blue Earth County, Martin County, Watonwan County, Minnesota. It was in force for 47 min. 3 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, 5:58 PM CDT (22:58 UTC)
Expired
Apr 13, 2026, 6:45 PM CDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
2.5 in

Counties Blue Earth County, MN, Martin County, MN, Watonwan County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 127 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:59 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
Apr 13, 6:04 PM CDTHAIL 1.75Lewisville, MN
Apr 13, 6:25 PM CDTTORNADO7 Wsw Amboy, MNMultiple reports from storm chasers, fire department, law enforcement. Tornado still on ground at 632 pm.
Apr 13, 6:25 PM CDTTORNADO7 Wsw Amboy, MNUpdates previous tornado report from 7 WSW Amboy. Multiple reports from storm chasers, fire department, law enforcement. Tornado still on ground at 632 pm. Farm outbuilding damage reported 10 WSW Amboy in extreme southwest Blue Earth County.

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
Apr 13, 3:11 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 126 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 2026-04-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 8 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 2026-04-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 124 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

366 
WFUS53 KMPX 132258
TORMPX
MNC013-091-165-132345-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0003.260413T2258Z-260413T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
558 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southwestern Blue Earth County in south central Minnesota...
  Northeastern Martin County in south central Minnesota...
  Southeastern Watonwan County in south central Minnesota...

* Until 645 PM CDT.

* At 558 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 6 miles northwest of Truman, or 17 miles north of
  Fairmont, moving east at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and tennis 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.

* Locations impacted include...
  South Branch, Truman and Lewisville.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 4385 9465 4396 9459 4402 9421 4385 9424
      4385 9425 4377 9425
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 264DEG 18KT 4387 9453

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.50 IN

$$

CTG
2 follow-up statements
226 
WWUS53 KMPX 132315
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
615 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

MNC013-091-165-132345-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260413T2345Z/
Blue Earth MN-Martin MN-Watonwan MN-
615 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN BLUE EARTH, NORTHEASTERN MARTIN AND SOUTHEASTERN
WATONWAN COUNTIES...

At 615 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Lewisville, or 17 miles north of Fairmont, moving
east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and tennis 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.

Locations impacted include...
  Truman and Lewisville.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 4383 9452 4398 9446 4402 9421 4385 9424
      4385 9425 4377 9425
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 264DEG 18KT 4387 9453

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.50 IN

$$

CTG
028 
WWUS53 KMPX 132333
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
633 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

MNC165-132343-
/O.CAN.KMPX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260413T2345Z/
Watonwan MN-
633 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

...TORNADO WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN WATONWAN COUNTY...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT Monday for a
portion of south central Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4381 9437 4397 9435 4399 9422 4385 9424
      4385 9425 4379 9425
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 264DEG 18KT 4388 9441

$$


MNC013-091-132345-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260413T2345Z/
Blue Earth MN-Martin MN-
633 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN BLUE EARTH AND NORTHEASTERN MARTIN COUNTIES...

At 633 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located 7 miles west of Amboy,
or 20 miles northeast of Fairmont, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and tennis ball size hail.

SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.

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...
  Mainly rural areas of Southwestern Blue Earth and Northeastern
  Martin Counties.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 4381 9437 4397 9435 4399 9422 4385 9424
      4385 9425 4379 9425
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 264DEG 18KT 4388 9441

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.50 IN

$$

CTG

The office that day

Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 13, 3:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDakota, Goodhue, Rice41 min
Apr 13, 3:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatMPXGoodhue43 min
Apr 13, 3:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatMPXRice35 min
Apr 13, 3:55 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXRice35 min
Apr 13, 4:09 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXGoodhue58 min
Apr 13, 4:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatMPXGoodhue61 min
Apr 13, 5:01 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMPXGoodhue5 hr
Apr 13, 5:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXGoodhue53 min
Apr 13, 5:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMartin, Watonwan48 min
Apr 13, 5:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXLe Sueur, Nicollet50 min
Apr 13, 5:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDakota, Le Sueur, Rice61 min
Apr 13, 6:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBlue Earth, Brown, Nicollet56 min
Apr 13, 6:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatMPXLe Sueur, Rice65 min
Apr 13, 6:28 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedMPXBlue Earth, Faribault, Martin47 min
Apr 13, 6:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXFaribault, Martin65 min
Apr 13, 6:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBlue Earth, Watonwan58 min
Apr 13, 6:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXWatonwan67 min
Apr 13, 6:48 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXRice, Steele, Waseca42 min
Apr 13, 6:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXGoodhue53 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.