Tornado and Hail in Minnesota, June 27, 2015

Name: Tornado and Hail in Minnesota, June 27, 2015
Start: 2015-06-27T17:11
End: 2015-06-27T20:25
Location: Minnesota

June 27, 2015 · NWS FGF · 8 events in 4 counties and zones

Temperatures rose into the 80s during the afternoon of the 27th along with dew points in the low to mid 60s. By mid to late afternoon a cold front and a strong short wave moved into the region.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS FGF wrote it up.

Temperatures rose into the 80s during the afternoon of the 27th along with dew points in the low to mid 60s. By mid to late afternoon a cold front and a strong short wave moved into the region. At 3 p. m. the cold front extended along a line from Langdon to Lakota to just west of Jamestown. Showers and thunderstorms formed along the cold front, but the first strong thunderstorm formed in southern Manitoba and tracked south-southeast into the Pembina and Cavalier county areas. Most of the storms stayed west of the Red River, although a few did form to the east of it. In addition, most storms showed strong rotation in many different areas of each individual storm. These storms produced large hail and tornadoes. Local news media and storm chasers took many pictures during the event, as most of the tornadoes were visible from long distances.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 27, 1:57 PM CST, 3 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 27, 1:57 PM CST, 3 hours 14 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
257 PM CDT SAT JUN 27 2015

.SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 300 PM CDT SAT JUN 27 2015

THE MAIN CHALLENGE WILL BE SEVERE WEATHER THIS
AFTERNOON/EVENING. MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT OVERALL AND THE
DETAILS ARE TOUGH TO TIME WITH ANY CONVECTIVE EVENT...BUT THE HRRR
SEEMS TO HAVE A GOOD HANDLE AS USUAL.

FOR REST OF THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING...IT APPEARS THAT THE SEVERE
STORMS SHOULD DEVELOP BY 4 PM IN NORTHEAST ND THEN SPREAD SOUTH
AND EAST THROUGH THIS EVENING. GIVEN THE STRONG SHEAR/INSTABILITY
COMBINATION...ALL MODES OF SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE WITH VERY LARGE
HAIL ALSO POSSIBLE. A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE
FA UNTIL 10 PM. MOST STORMS SHOULD ROTATE FAIRLY EASILY AND IF
MOISTURE CONVERGENCE AND LOW LEVEL SHEAR IS ENHANCED...THEN THE
TORNADIC THREAT WILL INCREASE. STORMS SHOULD MOVE INTO THE EASTERN
AREAS TOWARDS 6Z AS THEY WEAKEN SOMEWHAT WITH SUNSET.

ON SUNDAY...IT SHOULD BE DRY MOST AREAS WITH A FEW SHOWERS AND
STORMS IN THE FAR EAST. TEMPS WILL BE A BIT COOLER THAN TODAY BUT
STILL WARM IN THE LOW 80S FOR MOST AREAS.

.LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY)
ISSUED AT 300 PM CDT SAT JUN 27 2015

FOR MON...IT SHOULD BE DRY AND WARM WITH HIGHS INTO THE MID AND
PERHAPS UPPER 80S.

ON TUE...THERE WILL BE THE CHANCE FOR SOME AFTERNOON SHOWERS
MAINLY IN THE WEST. INSTABILITY IS LACKING WITH FAIRLY STABLE AIR
IN PLACE...SO NOT EXPECTING ANY THUNDER. TEMPS WILL BE COOLER
GIVEN MORE CLOUDS AND EXPECTED SHOWERS.

RELATIVELY HIGH AMPLITUDE LONG WAVE RIDGE WAS LOCATED OVER WESTERN
NORTH AMERICA WHILE A LONG WAVE TROUGH WAS OVER EASTERN NORTH
AMERICA. PATTERN RETROGRADES A BIT AND DE AMPLIFIES A BIT BY THE END
OF THE PERIOD. THE FLOW ALOFT WAS STILL SPLIT WITH STREAMS MERGING
OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS. IN THE SOUTHERN STREAM, THE GFS WAS A
LITTLE FASTER THAN THE GFS. IN THE NORTHERN STREAM, THE ECMWF WAS
FASTER THAN THE GFS. THE ECMWF WAS BRINGING AN UPPER LOW INTO WESTERN
CANADA AFTER WED. CURRENT TREND SHOWS THE ECMWF BACKING OFF MOVING
TROUGH INTO CANADA. WILL BLEND THE ECMWF AND GFS.

HIGH TEMPS WERE DECREASED TWO OR THREE DEGREES FOR WED...DECREASE A
DEGREE OR TWO FOR THU...LITTLE CHANGE FRI AND FOUR OR FIVE DEGREES
HIGHER FOR SAT.

&&

.AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY AFTERNOON)
ISSUED AT 1255 PM CDT SAT JUN 27 2015

HIGH LEVEL OVERCAST WAS ALONG THE RED RIVER AND INTO SOUTHERN MAN. A
MOSTLY CLEAR SKY WAS MOVING INTO THE FAR NORTHWEST ZONES AND A
PARTLY CLOUDY SKY WAS OVER MUCH OF THE EASTERN ZONES. CIGS WERE
MOSTLY ABOVE 10 THOUSAND FT. SOME CUMULUS WAS AROUND THE BJI
AREA...WOULD EXPECT CIGS BETWEEN 4 AND 5 THOUSAND FT. EXPECTED
THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS THE AREA AND
CONCURRENT MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED WITH STORMS. SOUTH WINDS
WILL SHIFT NORTHWEST WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE.

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...NONE.
MN...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...DK
LONG TERM...HOPPES/DK
AVIATION...DK

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 27, 10:35 AM CST, 6 hours 36 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
1135 AM CDT SAT JUN 27 2015

MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052>054-281645-
WEST POLK-NORMAN-CLAY-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-
WEST MARSHALL-EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-
EAST POLK-NORTH CLEARWATER-SOUTH BELTRAMI-MAHNOMEN-
SOUTH CLEARWATER-HUBBARD-WEST BECKER-EAST BECKER-WILKIN-
WEST OTTER TAIL-EAST OTTER TAIL-WADENA-GRANT-TOWNER-CAVALIER-
PEMBINA-BENSON-RAMSEY-EASTERN WALSH COUNTY-EDDY-NELSON-
GRAND FORKS-GRIGGS-STEELE-TRAILL-BARNES-CASS-RANSOM-SARGENT-
RICHLAND-WESTERN WALSH COUNTY-
1135 AM CDT SAT JUN 27 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA...WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON
AND EARLY EVENING ACROSS THE REGION. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE
EXPECTED AHEAD OF A FRONT DROPPING SOUTH FROM CANADA INTO
NORTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN SPREAD
SOUTHEAST DURING THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE AREA
OF HIGHEST INSTABILITY AND SHEAR FOR STRONGEST STORMS AND POSSIBLE
TORNADOES IS OVER THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL RED RIVER
VALLEY...INCLUDING GRAND FORKS AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
HAIL...POSSIBLY LARGER THAN 2 INCHES...AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE
ALSO THREATS. COVERAGE OF THE SEVERE STORMS WILL BE ISOLATED TO
SCATTERED IN NATURE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

WEAK UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVING SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE AREA
WILL GIVE PERIODIC SLIGHT CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH NEXT
WEEK. BUT AT THIS TIME WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT
EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 27, 4:47 PM CST, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
547 PM CDT SAT JUN 27 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0544 PM     HAIL             3 ENE ARVILLA           47.94N 97.43W
06/27/2015  E1.75 INCH       GRAND FORKS        ND   911 CALL CENTER

&&

JHOPPES

Local storm report, Jun 27, 4:48 PM CST, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
548 PM CDT SAT JUN 27 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0537 PM     HAIL             3 N NORTHWOOD           47.78N 97.57W
06/27/2015  E3.00 INCH       GRAND FORKS        ND   STORM CHASER

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Jun 27, 4:59 PM CST, 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
559 PM CDT SAT JUN 27 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0558 PM     TORNADO          9 NE HOPE               47.42N 97.58W
06/27/2015                   STEELE             ND   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

JHOPPES

Local storm report, Jun 27, 5:09 PM CST, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
609 PM CDT SAT JUN 27 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0508 PM     TORNADO          5 NE HATTON             47.69N 97.38W
06/27/2015                   GRAND FORKS        ND   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DEBRIS INDOCATED ON RADAR. SPOTTER REPORTS FUNNEL AS
            VIEWED FROM HATTON... BUT CANT SEE THE GROUND AREA.

&&

JHOPPES

Local storm report, Jun 27, 5:10 PM CST, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
610 PM CDT SAT JUN 27 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0509 PM     HAIL             5 E HOLMES              47.72N 97.19W
06/27/2015  E0.75 INCH       GRAND FORKS        ND   AMATEUR RADIO

&&

JHOPPES

Local storm report, Jun 27, 5:11 PM CST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
611 PM CDT SAT JUN 27 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0508 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     8 WNW GRAND FORKS AFB   48.01N 97.54W
06/27/2015                   GRAND FORKS        ND   OTHER FEDERAL

            FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED WEST NORTHWEST OF GFAFB.

&&

JHOPPES

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 78 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:11 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 hail, 3 funnel cloud, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Polk

When: June 27, 5:11 PM CST
Where: Polk County, 7.05 mi WNW of Roan
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 48.170, -96.900

Funnel Cloud, Polk

When: June 27, 5:35 PM CST
Where: Polk County, 1.15 mi SW of Angus
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 48.070, -96.740

A persistent wall cloud and funnel were observed.

Hail, Polk

When: June 27, 5:37 PM CST
Where: Polk County, 0.92 mi E of Angus
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.080, -96.700

The hail covered the ground.

Hail, Polk

When: June 27, 5:50 PM CST
Where: Polk County, 1.66 mi NE of Euclid
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.990, -96.610

Tornado, Clay

When: June 27, 7:05 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 5.68 mi E of Downer
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.750, -96.360

The tornado was observed from Interstate 94, where a series of dust plumes were noted.

Funnel Cloud, Otter Tail

When: June 27, 7:50 PM CST
Where: Otter Tail County, 1.68 mi NE of Pelican Rapids
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 46.590, -96.060

A persistent wall cloud with funnel were observed over Pelican and Crystal lakes.

Hail, Otter Tail

When: June 27, 8:15 PM CST
Where: Otter Tail County, 2.76 mi WSW of Dalton
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 46.150, -95.950

Large hail and very heavy rain fell along Interstate 94 between Dalton and Ashby.

Funnel Cloud, Grant

When: June 27, 8:25 PM CST
Where: Grant County, 2.77 mi ENE of Elbow Lake
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.020, -95.930

A persistent wall cloud and funnel were observed between Elbow Lake and Ashby.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Minnesota, 2015 Warnings in Minnesota, June 2015

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 575256, 575257, 575258, 575259, 575278, 576153, 576154, 576155.