Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 9, NWS Twin Cities, MN
NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this tornado warning at May 17, 2026, 7:12 PM CDT for Blue Earth County, Martin County, Watonwan County, Minnesota. It was in force for 33 min. 2 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, 7:12 PM CDT (00:12 UTC)
- Expired
- May 17, 2026, 7:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 33 min
- Issued by
- NWS Twin Cities, MN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Observed
- Hail
- 1.0 in
Counties Blue Earth County, MN, Martin County, MN, Watonwan County, MN
The radar
The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 131 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:14 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, 7:12 PM CDT | TORNADO | 3 Wsw Northrop, MN | Short rope tornado northwest of Fairmont north of mile marker 99 along I-90. Confirmed by law enforcement and trained spotter. |
| May 17, 7:45 PM CDT | HAIL 1.25 | Lewisville, MN | Delayed photo report of hail shared by broadcast media. 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, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 130 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.
235
WFUS53 KMPX 180012
TORMPX
MNC013-091-165-180045-
/O.NEW.KMPX.TO.W.0009.260518T0012Z-260518T0045Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
712 PM CDT Sun May 17 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 745 PM CDT.
* At 712 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located 7 miles northeast of
Welcome, or 8 miles northwest of Fairmont, moving northeast at 30
mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Law enforcement 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...
Northrop, 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 9454 4401 9444 4386 9419 4385 9421
4385 9425 4383 9425 4367 9452 4373 9462
TIME...MOT...LOC 0011Z 219DEG 27KT 4373 9454
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Dye4 follow-up statements
431
WWUS53 KMPX 180019
SVSMPX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
719 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
MNC013-091-165-180045-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260518T0045Z/
Blue Earth MN-Martin MN-Watonwan MN-
719 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN BLUE EARTH, NORTHEASTERN MARTIN AND SOUTHEASTERN
WATONWAN COUNTIES...
At 719 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Truman, or 10 miles north of Fairmont, moving
northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Northrop, Truman and Lewisville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself
from flying debris.
This storm has a history of producing tornadoes.
&&
LAT...LON 4385 9454 4401 9444 4386 9419 4385 9421
4385 9425 4383 9425 4367 9452 4373 9462
TIME...MOT...LOC 0012Z 219DEG 27KT 4374 9453
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Dye653
WWUS53 KMPX 180024
SVSMPX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
724 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
MNC013-091-165-180045-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260518T0045Z/
Blue Earth MN-Martin MN-Watonwan MN-
724 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN BLUE EARTH, NORTHEASTERN MARTIN AND SOUTHEASTERN
WATONWAN COUNTIES...
At 724 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Truman, or 12 miles north of Fairmont, moving
northeast 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...
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.
This storm has a history of producing tornadoes.
&&
LAT...LON 4385 9454 4401 9444 4386 9419 4385 9421
4385 9425 4383 9425 4373 9446 4379 9458
TIME...MOT...LOC 0019Z 219DEG 27KT 4378 9449
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Dye823
WWUS53 KMPX 180034 RRA
SVSMPX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
734 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
MNC013-091-165-180045-
/O.CON.KMPX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260518T0045Z/
Blue Earth MN-Martin MN-Watonwan MN-
734 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN BLUE EARTH, NORTH CENTRAL MARTIN AND SOUTHEASTERN
WATONWAN COUNTIES...
At 734 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Truman, or 17 miles north of Fairmont, moving
northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Truman and Lewisville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building
away from windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself
from flying debris.
This storm has a history of producing tornadoes.
&&
LAT...LON 4383 9450 4399 9441 4390 9426 4379 9443
TIME...MOT...LOC 0024Z 219DEG 27KT 4381 9445
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Dye386 WWUS53 KMPX 180043 SVSMPX Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 743 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026 MNC013-091-165-180053- /O.EXP.KMPX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260518T0045Z/ Blue Earth MN-Martin MN-Watonwan MN- 743 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026 ...TORNADO WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 745 PM CDT FOR SOUTHWESTERN BLUE EARTH, NORTH CENTRAL MARTIN AND SOUTHEASTERN WATONWAN COUNTIES... The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT Monday for a portion of south central Minnesota. && LAT...LON 4383 9450 4399 9441 4390 9426 4379 9443 TIME...MOT...LOC 0034Z 219DEG 27KT 4387 9439 $$ Dye
The 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, 7:32 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, 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.