During the afternoon of September 23, 2023, a line of thunderstorms crossed the South Dakota/Minnesota border as part of a low pressure system. Embedded within one of these storms, two storm chasers independently confirmed that a weak tornado touched down in a rural field six miles northeast of Madison, MN.
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The episode as NWS MPX wrote it up.
During the afternoon of September 23, 2023, a line of thunderstorms crossed the South Dakota/Minnesota border as part of a low pressure system. Embedded within one of these storms, two storm chasers independently confirmed that a weak tornado touched down in a rural field six miles northeast of Madison, MN. The tornado was on the ground for nearly 45 seconds and traveled about one-quarter mile before dissipating. No structural damage was reported. Average path width of the tornado was approximately 25 yards.
Approximately 13 miles to the northeast the same storm approached the town of Appleton where a funnel cloud was reported by broadcast media 2 miles north of town.
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 Twin Cities, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 23, 2:26 PM CST, 48 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 326 PM CDT Sat Sep 23 2023 .DISCUSSION...(This evening through Saturday) Issued at 326 PM CDT Sat Sep 23 2023 KEY MESSAGES: - Additional showers and storms this afternoon and tonight, with heaviest rain over Minnesota. - There is a Slight risk (2/5) of severe storms across southern and western Minnesota late this afternoon and evening. All severe hazards will be possible. - Dry weather will return by mid-week with above normal temperatures for the foreseeable future. This morning's convection that was across southern MN has since pushed into central WI with some showers lingering in Chippewa and Eau Claire counties. Some additional showers and storms also developed across south-central MN late this morning on the nose of 700 hPa WAA. This activity has since weakened, though, as it has moved north away from the lift and into lesser instability. Of greater interest is the convection currently developing along the central portion of the MN/IA border. This activity stems from a stronger convective complex over north-central IA. None of the morning CAMs have had this feature and its longevity and potential upscale growth remain unclear. Latest mesoanalysis indicates that surface air parcels are uncapped with 1500 J/kg of CAPE across southern MN. (Mid-level lapse rates also exceed 7 C/km.) With nothing to stop the lifting of parcels, additional cells to the north of the current activity seem probable. While the current environment could support a strong/severe storm, doubt is being cast on the severe potential later this afternoon. Mosaic radar and satellite imagery show additional storms developing along an arching cold front that extends to a surface low in southeast SD. CAMs have depicted this line of storms intensifying while traveling northeast through southern MN; reaching the Twin Cities by around 6pm this evening. However according to mesoanalysis, the ongoing convection across southern MN has greatly limited surface instability in its wake. Thus, the full potential of the QLCS may not be realized as it passes through turned over air. Thunderstorms are still expected late this afternoon thru this evening for most of the area, but as of now, severe weather appears less likely across southern and south-central MN. Perhaps a few strong/severe wind gusts may still occur, particularly around and west of the MSP area where prior convection may not have caused as much contamination. Instead, the greatest concern for severe weather appears to be farther west in southwestern/western MN. Breaks in the clouds have been noted on satellite and some cellular convection has fired in eastern SD. Expecting more storms to develop along the occluded front with supercells possible in an environment of +1500 J/kg SBCAPE and 30-40 knots of effective bulk shear. All severe hazards are still possible (including tornadoes) given storms could spin relatively easily in the vorticity rich environment closer to the surface low. Showers and thunderstorms will continue to spread along the cold front through this evening, eventually draping from north-central MN southward into eastern MN and west-central WI overnight. The heaviest and most widespread rainfall is expected tonight as the strong dynamics of this system overlap. The 12z HREF LPMM shows a good swath of 1.5" to over 3" across central MN. A couple of models also hint at training of storms occurring near the MN/WI border, which would be a concern if it occurs over any urban areas. Higher amounts of rainfall would be expected if training were to occur. Winds will also become very strong near the cold front overnight as the surface low deepens with gusts exceeding 40 knots. Forecast models show the low pressure system stalling over MN through at least Monday. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible to likely for nearly our entire region through this period as the continual lift will cause showers and storms to wrap around the low. Thunderstorms will be most likely during the afternoon hours. Guidance shows that an additional 1-2" of rain could occur through Monday night from central MN into western WI. This would of course be very dependent on where lines of precip set up, with higher amounts possible with thunderstorms and/or training. The remnant low should push east by mid-week, but with some models struggling to do so, have kept slight chance PoPs across western WI through Wednesday. Afterwards, the pattern turns drier with temperatures forecast to warm above normal towards the end of next week. Long-range models favor upper-level ridging to once again develop over the Great Lakes and into eastern Canada. A chance of rain may occur towards the end of next week within the southwesterly flow upstream of the ridge, but forecast certainty is much too low to say definitively at this time. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon) Issued at 100 PM CDT Sat Sep 23 2023 Scattered showers will continue through mid afternoon, then TS expected to develop across southwest MN and push ENE though the late afternoon and early evening before weakening. IFR conditions possible in TS, otherwise mostly MVFR/VFR conditions through the period. SE winds will increase later today with some gusts to 30 kts through evening. KMSP...Looks dry for most of the day, then showers and storms expected early this evening (after 23Z). Showers should persist into the overnight before diminishing by Sunday morning. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ Mon...Chc MVFR/-SHRA/-TSRA. Wind S 10 kts. Tue...VFR. Wind E 10 kts. Wed...VFR. Wind SE 10 kts. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...None. WI...None. && DISCUSSION...CTG AVIATION...Borghoff
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 338 PM CDT Sat Sep 23 2023 MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028- 242045- Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns- Benton-Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa- Kandiyohi-Meeker-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington- Yellow Medicine-Renville-McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota- Redwood-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth- Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-Polk-Barron-Rusk- St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Eau Claire- 338 PM CDT Sat Sep 23 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central and southern Minnesota, and west central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorms are likely tonight. A few storms could be severe with large hail, damaging winds, and an isolated tornado or two, particularly over portions of central and southern Minnesota. Thunderstorms will be capable of producing locally heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN spotter activation may be needed this evening across Minnesota.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
355 PM CDT Sat Sep 23 2023
MNZ054-232130-
Lac Qui Parle MN-
355 PM CDT Sat Sep 23 2023
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL LAC QUI PARLE
COUNTY THROUGH 430 PM CDT...
At 355 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Madison, or 21 miles southeast of Ortonville, moving north at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of north central Lac
qui Parle County, including the following locations... Louisburg and
Madison Airport.
This includes U.S. Highway 75 between mile markers 107 and 116, and
between mile markers 118 and 127.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 4525 9629 4522 9627 4522 9622 4519 9617
4519 9612 4518 9610 4498 9611 4498 9626
4525 9632
TIME...MOT...LOC 2055Z 180DEG 18KT 4505 9619
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
BorghoffThe Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 173 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:13 UTC.
1 tornado, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
A brief rain wrapped tornado was spotted in an open field for approximately 45 seconds.
A broadcast meteorologist photographed a funnel cloud and shared it on social media. The funnel did not appear to have made ground contact.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Minnesota, 2023Warnings in Minnesota, September 2023
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: 1139524, 1139776.