Tornadoes · United States · Minnesota · 2016

EF1 tornado, Puposky, Minnesota, July 19, 2016

Name: EF1 tornado, Puposky, Minnesota, July 19, 2016
Start: 2016-07-20T02:14:00.000Z
End: 2016-07-20T02:26:00.000Z
Location: Puposky, Minnesota

This EF1 tornado ran 4.0 miles across Beltrami County on July 19, 2016, touching down at 9:14 PM CDT and reaching 400 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 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
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: EF1
Date: July 19, 2016
Touchdown: 9:14 PM CDT (02:14 UTC)
Lifted: 9:26 PM CDT (02:26 UTC)
On the ground: 12 minutes
Path length: 4.0 miles (6.4 km)
Path width: 400 yards (366 m)
Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
County: Beltrami County
Touchdown point: 47.730, -94.940
Lift-off point: 47.702, -94.820
Record number: 1607192014-01

What the Weather Service recorded

Tuesday July 19th was a very hot and humid day. Afternoon temperatures peaked in the mid to upper 80s, with dew points in the mid 70s. Thunderstorms fired up by late afternoon over southern Manitoba, Canada, and tracked southeast through northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota during the evening. These storms produced very large hail and strong winds.

The tornado was partially wrapped in heavy rain and downburst winds. The tornado blew down or snapped several hundred trees along its path and one structure had shingles torn off its roof. Peak winds were estimated at 90 mph. The emergency manager conducted an initial damage survey which was reviewed and confirmed by the NWS.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, 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 tornado touched down at Jul 19, 7:02 PM CDT, 2 hours 12 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 19, 7:02 PM CDT, 2 hours 12 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
702 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016

.UPDATE...
Issued at 653 PM CDT Tue Jul 19 2016

Severe weather ongoing in northeast ND vcnty Minto through Grafton...
should bleed across into northwest MN shortly. Watch in effect til
11pm.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday)
Issued at 149 PM CDT Tue Jul 19 2016

Convection will be the challenge for the early afternoon as
instability continues to fight an H700 warm layer. A storm west of
Devils Lake in the vicinity of a more localized area of nil MLCIN
is moving into warmer air aloft and increasing MLCIN, however how
much this will weaken over the next couple of hours is still in
question as a well defined vort max moves east north of the
border. Thinking has been convection would stay north of the
border where the cap is weaker...however will put scattered storms
along and north of Highway 2 for the remainder of the afternoon.

Models have shown increasing potential for nocturnal activity
developing across southern Manitoba and moving into northern
Minnesota, where we are maintain a chance for storms however have
pushed pushed those chance POPs further east closer to the 10 to
12 DEG H700 temps.

Dew points have risen into the low 70s about as expected and as
full solar tomorrow will heat up a warm boundary layer that will
bring heat indices to near the 100 degree mark by tomorrow
afternoon. There are no plans to change headlines for the
excessive heat watch that goes into affect tomorrow, however the
far southern valley has be best chance of seeing heat indices near
105 degrees, or the excessive heat warning criteria. Feeling is
areas from Fargo north and within the valley will see advisory
criteria with indices between 100 and 105, with potential for
higher indices further south.

Another round of storms is possible as another short wave embedded
in the upper ridge moves across the area tomorrow, with the main
inhibitor once again being mid level temps and the strength of the
waves ability to break the cap. Temperatures should fall below 70
degrees during the night, however the hot and humid conditions
will return on Thursday when more headlines (advisory/warning)
will likely be needed.

.LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Tuesday)
Issued at 149 PM CDT Tue Jul 19 2016

Models in general agreement for this forecast period and went with a
blended soln. The Thursday night and early Friday time frame should
be quiet and remain warm as the H5 ridge stays over the area. By
Friday evening...will see an area of low pressure develop across the
western Dakotas with southerly flow pumping more heat and moisture
across the area. As the wave traverses the forecast area on
Saturday...will see increased chances for showers and storms.
Slightly cooler temps will move south across the area behind the low
by Sunday.  Slightly cooler temps will remain...along with some
scattered showers through the end of the period.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Wednesday evening)
Issued at 654 PM CDT Tue Jul 19 2016

General VFR conditions with scattered areas MVFR cigs and vsbys in
strong to severe TS across northeast ND and northwest MN through
04z. VFR cigs with isold TS possible eastward from TVF through BJI
after 04Z... with fair skies in eastern ND. Expect clearing skies
in northwest and northcentral MN after 08z.

&&

.FGF Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
ND...Excessive Heat Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday
     evening for NDZ027-030-039-049-052-053.

MN...Excessive Heat Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday
     evening for MNZ001>003-015-022>024-027>032-040.

&&

UPDATE...Gust
SHORT TERM...Speicher
LONG TERM...Voelker
AVIATION...Gust

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 19, 6:41 AM CDT, 14 hours 33 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
641 AM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016

MNZ001>003-015-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ027-030-039-049-052-053-
201145-
WEST POLK-NORMAN-CLAY-EAST POLK-MAHNOMEN-SOUTH CLEARWATER-HUBBARD-
WEST BECKER-EAST BECKER-WILKIN-WEST OTTER TAIL-EAST OTTER TAIL-
WADENA-GRANT-GRAND FORKS-TRAILL-CASS-RANSOM-SARGENT-RICHLAND-
641 AM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP OR MOVE INTO THE
AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. ISOLATED SEVERE STORM IS
POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND
WEDNESDAY NIGHT. ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE. CHANCES FOR
THUNDERSTORMS APPEAR ONCE AGAIN FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

AS FOR HEAT AND HUMIDITY...WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WILL SEE HEAT
INDICES REACH THE UPPER 90S TO AROUND 105. SEE LATEST NPWFGF
STATEMENTS FOR UPDATES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

MNZ004>009-013-014-016-017-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026-028-029-038-
054-201145-
KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-WEST MARSHALL-EAST MARSHALL-
NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-NORTH CLEARWATER-
SOUTH BELTRAMI-TOWNER-CAVALIER-PEMBINA-BENSON-RAMSEY-
EASTERN WALSH COUNTY-EDDY-NELSON-GRIGGS-STEELE-BARNES-
WESTERN WALSH COUNTY-
641 AM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY IN THE
DEVILS LAKE BASIN THIS AFTERNOON. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY IN NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA TONIGHT. ISOLATED
SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND
WEDNESDAY NIGHT. ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE. CHANCES FOR
THUNDERSTORMS APPEAR ONCE AGAIN FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

AS FOR HEAT AND HUMIDITY...WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WILL SEE HEAT
INDICES REACH THE MID 90S TO AROUND 100. SEE LATEST NPWFGF STATEMENTS
FOR UPDATES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

DTR

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 19, 8:45 PM CDT, 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
845 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016

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

0826 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 WNW GRAND FORKS       47.94N 97.17W
07/19/2016  M55 MPH          GRAND FORKS        ND   ASOS

            48 KNOT GUST REPORTED AT GRAND FORKS INTERNATIONAL
            AIRPORT

&&

SPEICHER

Local storm report, Jul 19, 8:46 PM CDT, 28 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jul 19, 8:47 PM CDT, 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
847 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016

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

0645 PM     HAIL             2 W GRAFTON             48.42N 97.45W
07/19/2016  M4.00 INCH       WALSH              ND   BROADCAST MEDIA

            REPORT AND PHOTO POSTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Jul 19, 8:50 PM CDT, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
850 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016

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

0835 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GRAND FORKS             47.92N 97.07W
07/19/2016                   GRAND FORKS        ND   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREE BRANCHES UP TO A FOOT IN DIAMETER BROKEN DOWN AT 9TH
            AND CHESTNUT. SOME FENCHING BLOWN DOWN AS WELL.

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Jul 19, 8:56 PM CDT, 18 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jul 19, 8:59 PM CDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
859 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2016

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

0854 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     6 E EUCLID              47.97N 96.51W
07/19/2016                   POLK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FUNNEL VIEWED BY SPOTTER LOCATED EAST NORTHEAST OF
            CROOKSTON.

&&

GGUST

The surface observations

Bemidji (BJI), 23 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)	Temp (°F)	Dew point (°F)	Wind	Gust (kt)	Pressure (mb)	Weather
00:00 UTC

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 184 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 02:12 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track

Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.

This ground now

The live radar over the track Every 2016 tornado in Minnesota Every tornado in Minnesota since 1950 Warnings in force in Minnesota now The forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of July 19, 2016

5 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
July 19	2:34 PM CDT	EF0	Monroe, IA	2.3	50	$4,000
July 19	5:30 PM CDT	EF1	Pembina, ND	5.3	880
July 19	6:17 PM CDT	EF1	Walsh, ND	1.5	440
July 19	6:36 PM CDT	EF1	Walsh, ND	1.0	200
July 19	8:55 PM CDT	EF1	Polk, MN	4.8	300

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.