Tornadoes · United States · Minnesota · 2008
EF0 tornado, Marine On St Croix, Minnesota, May 25, 2008
This EF0 tornado ran 1.0 miles across Washington County on May 25, 2008, touching down at 5:10 PM CDT and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- EF0
- Date
- May 25, 2008
- Touchdown
- 5:10 PM CDT (22:10 UTC)
- Lifted
- 5:12 PM CDT (22:12 UTC)
- On the ground
- 2 minutes
- Path length
- 1.0 miles (1.7 km)
- Path width
- 50 yards (46 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Washington County
- Touchdown point
- 45.184, -92.831
- Lift-off point
- 45.181, -92.810
- Record number
- 0805251610-01
What the Weather Service recorded
A cold front was the catalyst for numerous reports of severe weather on this date.
Hundreds of trees were damaged at the Warner Nature Reserve. Park building slightly damaged by falling tree.
The tornado developed in the northern edge of Marine on St. Croix. It crossed the St. Croix River, and marched into St. Croix County and then Polk County. It dissipated 3.5 miles southwest of East Farmington in Polk County. Damage from the tornado included a few hundred trees felled, with several homes damaged by falling trees in Marine on St. Croix.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
14 minutes of warning. NWS MPX issued a tornado warning for this county at 21:56 UTC, 14 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 22:30 UTC.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 19:05 UTC and running to 00:15 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19:05 UTC | 00:15 UTC | Tornado Watch | MPX |
| 21:13 UTC | 22:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX |
| 21:37 UTC | 22:00 UTC | Tornado Warning | MPX |
| 21:56 UTC | 22:30 UTC | Tornado Warning | MPX |
| 22:17 UTC | 23:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX |
| 22:25 UTC | 23:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX |
| 23:00 UTC | 23:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Moderate Risk, with a 0.10 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 20:34 UTC.
SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.
The air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), 12:00Z
10.2 hours before the tornado, 72 km from the path. May 25, 2008.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 58 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -266 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 641 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 63 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 8 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 53 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 45 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- -3.1
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.5 K/km
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), 00:00Z
1.8 hours after it, 72 km from the path. May 26, 2008.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 789 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -139 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 89 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1428 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 63 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 30 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 102 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 198 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.8
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.0 K/km
The surface observations
Osceola (OEO), 17 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:15 UTC | 77 | 66.2 | 160° 10 kt | 1005.4 | ||
| 20:35 UTC | 75.2 | 64.4 | 150° 11 kt | 1005.4 | ||
| 20:55 UTC | 75.2 | 64.4 | 150° 10 kt | 16 | 1004.7 | |
| 21:15 UTC | 75.2 | 64.4 | 130° 9 kt | 1004.1 | HZ | |
| 21:35 UTC | 73.4 | 64.4 | 130° 9 kt | 1003.4 | ||
| 21:55 UTC | 73.4 | 64.4 | 110° 12 kt | 16 | 1001.7 | HZ |
| 22:35 UTC | 62.6 | 62.6 | 60° 14 kt | 1003 | +RA | |
| 22:36 UTC | 62.6 | 62.6 | 50° 13 kt | 16 | 1003 | +RA |
| 22:56 UTC | 64.4 | 62.6 | 0° 0 kt | 1003.7 | +RA | |
| 23:15 UTC | 62.6 | 62.6 | 20° 3 kt | 1002.7 | RA | |
| 23:55 UTC | 62.6 | 62.6 | 120° 9 kt | 1002.4 | -RA | |
| 23:56 UTC | 62.6 | 62.6 | 120° 10 kt | 1002.4 | -RA |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21:14 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 3 S Elk River | Sherburne, MN | |
| 21:24 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | Ese Ramsey | Anoka, MN | |
| 21:30 UTC | HAIL 1 | Andover | Anoka, MN | |
| 21:30 UTC | HAIL 3 | 2 Nnw Anoka | Anoka, MN | |
| 21:33 UTC | HAIL 2.5 | 2 W Andover | Anoka, MN | |
| 21:35 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Nw Coon Rapids | Anoka, MN | REPORTED MOVING EAST |
| 21:35 UTC | TORNADO | Ese Coon Rapids | Anoka, MN | FOLLOW UP. 14 AND 12 INCH DIAMETER TREES UPROOTED. |
| 21:36 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Nw Coon Rapids | Anoka, MN | TORNADO REPORTED ON THE GROUND AT THE INTERSECTION OF HWY 10 AND MAIN STREET. |
| 21:40 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Nw Coon Rapids | Anoka, MN | POWER LINES DOWN, TREES DOWN, SOME ROOFS PARTIALLY MISSING. POSSIBLE TORNADO AT COUNTRY RD 242 AND SHENANDONAH BLVD NW. |
| 21:45 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Sw Blaine | Anoka, MN | LARGE TREES DOWN, HWY 47 AND HWY 118 |
| 21:46 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Ssw Blaine | Anoka, MN | 13 INCH DIAMETER TREES DOWN. |
| 21:51 UTC | HAIL 1.25 | Ham Lake | Anoka, MN | |
| 21:54 UTC | HAIL 1 | 1 S Forest Lake | Washington, MN | |
| 22:00 UTC | HAIL 2 | 5 E Blaine | Anoka, MN | |
| 22:01 UTC | TORNADO | Hugo | Washington, MN | *** 1 FATAL, 9 INJ *** TORNADO RATED EF-3. TOUCHED DOWN AT 455 PM ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF LAKE PELTIER IN LINO LAKES THEN MOVED INTO HOUSING SUBDIVISION AT 501 PM. TORNADO DISSIPATED AT ABOUT 505 PM JUST NORTH OF IRISH A |
| 22:02 UTC | HAIL 1 | 6 S Lindstrom | Washington, MN | |
| 22:03 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Anoka | Anoka, MN | BUILDING DAMAGE. |
| 22:03 UTC | HAIL 1 | 1 Ese Forest Lake | Washington, MN | |
| 22:05 UTC | TORNADO | Hugo | Washington, MN | *** 1 FATAL, 9 INJ *** TIME APPROXIMATE. DAMAGE SURVEY WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TODAY FROM COON RAPIDS TO HUGO AND INTO WISCONSIN. UPDATED INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED LATER TODAY. |
| 22:10 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Rogers | Hennepin, MN | |
| 22:11 UTC | HAIL 3 | Anoka | Anoka, MN | CITY OF ANOKA. |
| 22:12 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | 2 Nnw Anoka | Anoka, MN | |
| 22:14 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | 6 E Forest Lake | Washington, MN | |
| 22:15 UTC | TORNADO | N Marine On St Croix | Washington, MN | NWS DAMAGE SURVEY CONFIRMED A 1/2 TO 3/4 MILE LONG EF0 TORNADO THAT TRAVELED FROM THE NORTHERN EDGE OF MARINE ON ST CROIX ACROSS THE ST CROIX RIVER TO 3 1/2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF EAST FARMINGTON JUST NORTH OF THE POLK AND S |
| 22:20 UTC | HAIL 0.88 | 4 Wnw Coon Rapids | Anoka, MN | |
| 22:23 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Forest Lake | Washington, MN | MILE MARKER 124 ON INTERSTATE 35 E. FARM BUILDINGS BLOWN OVER, TREES UPROOTED. |
| 22:30 UTC | TSTM WND GST 62 | 1 N Brooklyn Park | Hennepin, MN | |
| 22:32 UTC | HAIL 0.88 | 3 Ese Forest Lake | Washington, MN | |
| 22:34 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | Circle Pines | Anoka, MN | |
| 22:35 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nw Hugo | Washington, MN | HOUSE DOWN, WIDESPREAD DAMAGE. |
| 22:35 UTC | HAIL 1 | 4 E Blaine | Anoka, MN | |
| 22:38 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | 2 Nw Hugo | Washington, MN | |
| 22:39 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nnw Coon Rapids | Anoka, MN | SHINGLES OFF AND 8 INCH DIAMETER BRANCHES BROKEN OFF. |
| 22:43 UTC | HAIL 0.88 | 6 Se Forest Lake | Washington, MN | |
| 22:45 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Nnw St Paul | Ramsey, MN | A FEW TREES DOWN AT UNIVERSITY AND MARION NEAR STATE CAPITOL. |
| 22:45 UTC | HAIL 2 | 2 Wsw Hugo | Washington, MN | |
| 22:47 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 1 Ne Hugo | Washington, MN | |
| 22:51 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | 2 Nne Marine On St Croi | Washington, MN |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2008 tornado in MinnesotaEvery tornado in Minnesota since 1950Warnings in force in Minnesota nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of May 25, 2008
31 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 2:57 PM CDT | EF1 | Lane, KS | 3.0 | 100 | |||
| May 25 | 2:58 PM CDT | EF0 | Scott, KS | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| May 25 | 3:29 PM CDT | EF0 | Hartley, TX | 1.7 | 50 | |||
| May 25 | 3:37 PM CDT | EF0 | Rush, KS | 1.9 | 150 | |||
| May 25 | 3:37 PM CDT | EF0 | Hartley, TX | 7.7 | 75 | |||
| May 25 | 4:15 PM CDT | EF0 | Rush, KS | 0.5 | 25 | |||
| May 25 | 4:23 PM CDT | EF0 | Trego, KS | 1.2 | 75 | |||
| May 25 | 4:35 PM CDT | EF1 | Anoka, MN | 6.0 | 100 | 2 | $700,000 | |
| May 25 | 4:47 PM CDT | EF0 | Rush, KS | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| May 25 | 4:48 PM CDT | EF5 | Parkersburg–New Hartford tornado, IA | 41.0 | 2,100 | 9 | 70 | $100 million |
| May 25 | 4:49 PM CDT | EF0 | Rush, KS | 1.1 | 100 | |||
| May 25 | 4:50 PM CDT | EF0 | Rush, KS | 0.5 | 25 | |||
| May 25 | 4:53 PM CDT | EF0 | Hutchinson, TX | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| May 25 | 4:55 PM CDT | EF3 | Anoka, MN | 6.0 | 220 | 1 | 17 | $25 million |
| May 25 | 5:07 PM CDT | EF0 | Grundy, IA | 1.1 | 50 | $1,000 | ||
| May 25 | 5:15 PM CDT | EF0 | Washington, MN to WI | 1.3 | 50 | $300,000 | ||
| May 25 | 5:22 PM CDT | EF0 | Barton, KS | 0.9 | 75 | |||
| May 25 | 5:48 PM CDT | EF0 | Cass, MN | 4.0 | 25 | |||
| May 25 | 5:55 PM CDT | EF0 | Dunn, WI | 3.5 | 50 | $200,000 | ||
| May 25 | 5:56 PM CDT | EF0 | Barton, KS | 6.2 | 75 | |||
| May 25 | 6:05 PM CDT | EF3 | Buchanan, IA | 32.0 | 1,232 | 3 | $1.1 million | |
| May 25 | 6:25 PM CDT | EF1 | Clarke, IA | 6.8 | 50 | |||
| May 25 | 6:35 PM CDT | EF0 | Jackson, IL | 0.2 | 20 | |||
| May 25 | 6:40 PM CDT | EF1 | Buchanan, IA | 3.5 | 100 | $50,000 | ||
| May 25 | 6:55 PM CDT | EF0 | Ellsworth, KS | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| May 25 | 7:05 PM CDT | EF0 | Saline, KS | 0.9 | 50 | |||
| May 25 | 7:19 PM CDT | EF0 | Pembina, ND | 0.2 | 25 | |||
| May 25 | 7:31 PM CDT | EF1 | Delaware, IA | 8.5 | 250 | $350,000 | ||
| May 25 | 9:00 PM CDT | EF0 | Marathon, WI | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 25 | 11:06 PM CDT | EF1 | Iowa, IA | 6.2 | 440 | $100,000 | ||
| May 25 | 11:38 PM CDT | EF0 | Johnson, IA | 0.1 | 100 | $10,000 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.