A mid-level wave had moved into western Minnesota and increased moisture and surface-based instability during the afternoon of September 1st. This led to diurnal convective activity mainly west of the I-35 corridor for that afternoon.
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The episode as NWS MPX wrote it up.
A mid-level wave had moved into western Minnesota and increased moisture and surface-based instability during the afternoon of September 1st. This led to diurnal convective activity mainly west of the I-35 corridor for that afternoon. The threat of severe weather was low, however weak shear and steep lapse rates existed in the 0-3km level, which led to a brief funnel cloud developing with one cell approximately two miles east of Blomkest, MN.
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 1, 1:21 PM CST, 13 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 221 PM CDT Mon Sep 1 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated to scattered showers this afternoon along and west of the I-35 corridor. - A few severe storms (risk level 1 of 5) possible Tuesday afternoon/evening with the arrival of a strong cold front. - Temperatures cool down significantly midweek into the weekend, before rebounding next week. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 220 PM CDT Mon Sep 1 2025 Satellite imagery highlights a bubbly Cu field across the region with a few areas of more congested Cu across s/SW MN. Surface analysis hasn't changed much over the past few days as a high pressure remains anchored over the Great Lakes with a ridge axis stretching back to the northwest into WI & MN. The 12z MPX sounding reveals a light & messy low-level wind profile accompanied by 1.0"+ PWAT value. SPC Mesoanalysis PWAT page reveals a core of better moisture across SW Iowa/E Nebraska northward into the Dakotas. This will slowly work it's way into MN & WI over the next 24 hours. Additional scattered thunderstorms & showers for the remainder of this afternoon. This threat should be along & west of the I-35 corridor across central and southern Minnesota. Forecast soundings would support the potential for a few funnel cloud scenarios this afternoon. The thermodynamic environment & wind profile are favorable for some stretching of updrafts. Thankfully, low level wind shear is very limited so the tornado threat is near-zero. Showers will eventually dissipate this evening into tonight. Overnight, we will see the plume of better moisture over the Dakotas will begin to trek eastward into Minnesota. This moisture will combine with a vorticity lobe that'll provide enough forcing to squeeze out the isolated showers across western & central Minnesota. This will add a layer of annoyance (cloud cover) for those trying to catch the Northern Lights tonight. However, some areas may have enough breaks in the cloud cover to view them (if the CME timing is favorable for the aurora). For Tuesday & Tuesday night, a strong cold front will move through central MN by early afternoon. Surface dew points will rise into the low to mid 60s as low level moisture pools ahead of the cold front. This will support 1000 to 1500 j/kg of MLCAPE - enough for thunderstorm development along and ahead of the frontal boundary. Forecast soundings across lower Minnesota Tuesday afternoon depict adequate instability & adequate mid-level lapse rates but the better wind shear appears to lag behind the surface front. This is apparent given the better forcing tied to our upper level wave arrives Tuesday evening/night. The lack of better synoptic support & limited shear would support an isolated wind threat along the line of thunderstorms & maybe a few iso large hail reports. Multiple clusters or line segments are possible through Tuesday evening as our boundary moves through. SPC maintained a Marginal risk (1 of 5) for isolated wind & large hail across much of the MPX forecast area. This is reasonable given solutions & forecast soundings in the hi- res guidance. Wednesday through Sunday, much colder temperatures will usher in an early taste of Fall on Wednesday. Our departing surface low will deepen as it heads into Ontario while a broad Canadian high pressure builds into the Upper Midwest. We'll see a prolonged period of cyclonic flow & cold air advection starting Wednesday. Highs each day will only be in the mid 50s to lower 60s with winds that'll add insult to injury. To make matters worse, we'll see scattered showers develop Wednesday afternoon & northwest winds ramp up with gusts up to 35 mph possible. It'll feel much closer to October than July. On Thursday, guidance continues to highlight the potential for a stronger shortwave to move through. The clipper system will bring a reinforcing shot of cold air, gusty winds, and a round of showers Thursday afternoon into Thursday night. Some of the models hint that a few thunderstorms could be possible as a ribbon of better low level moisture pools ahead of the surface cold front could be enough to support a few 100 j/kg of CAPE. This could lead to a low CAPE/high wind shear set up if we're able to thread the needle with timing of the clipper/frontal passage. At this point, the main impacts will be the rain, wind, and colder air for the weekend. Overnight lows will drop into the 40s that'll provide an early season chance to break out the sweaters. We'll see southerly flow return on Sunday. This will begin to return warmer, more seasonable temperatures into the region for next week. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1230 PM CDT Mon Sep 1 2025 Mainly VFR to start the period with a few sites likely to bounce to brief MVFR as clouds hover at 2kft in western MN, mainly AXN/RWF. Isolated -SHRA/-TSRA becomes possible generally after 00z, with CAMs showing activity lingering through 10-12z. Coverage will be sparse, so mainly prob30 level confidence, with not all sites seeing activity overnight. The best overall chance looks to be from STC to MSP after 02z with brief MVFR possible as well as enough rumbles for -TSRA. KMSP...Despite prevailing -SHRA and a tempo for -TSRA, confidence is much lower but this scenario was difficult to handle within the TAF. Coverage of -SHRA/-TSRA will be the main concern, as CAM guidance is consistent in bringing activity to MSP, but the reality likely being sparse enough activity for gaps to potentially miss the terminal. Expect some shorter term AMDs and even some changes in the 00z as the scenario remains low confidence. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ TUE...VFR, bcmg MVFR/-SHRA. Wind SW 5-10kts. WED...MVFR/IFR/SHRA likely. Wind NW 10-15G25kts. THU...VFR. Wind NW 5-10kts. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...None. WI...None. && DISCUSSION...BPH AVIATION...TDH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 423 AM CDT Mon Sep 1 2025 MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028- 020930- 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- 423 AM CDT Mon Sep 1 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central and southern Minnesota, and west central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Thunderstorms are expected to develop Tuesday afternoon and evening. A few of the storms could be severe on Tuesday, with a level 1 of 5 severe risk. Damaging wind gusts will be the primary hazard. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.
The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:34 UTC.
1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Photo of funnel cloud approximately two miles east of Blomkest submitted via Facebook messenger.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, September 2025
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: 1295383.