Tornadoes · United States · Minnesota · 2017

EF1 tornado, Collis, Minnesota, June 13, 2017

This EF1 tornado ran 0.1 miles across Traverse County on June 13, 2017, touching down at 8:30 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.

  1. EF065 to 85 mph

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. 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.

  7. 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
June 13, 2017
Touchdown
8:30 PM CDT (01:30 UTC)
Lifted
8:33 PM CDT (01:33 UTC)
On the ground
3 minutes
Path length
0.1 miles (0.1 km)
Path width
50 yards (46 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Traverse County
Touchdown point
45.600, -96.325
Lift-off point
45.601, -96.324
Record number
1706131930-01

The damage survey

25 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS ABR, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 110 mph.

  • garage door pushed off tracks
  • Damage lofted roughly 2000 ft to the northeast
  • Damage lofted roughly 2000 to the northeast.

Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.

What the Weather Service recorded

A large upper level low pressure trough lifting northeast over the region along with a surface cold front interacting with a warm and very humid air mass brought severe thunderstorms to west central Minnesota during the evening hours. The storms brought damaging winds along with a few tornadoes to the region.

A resident watched a tornado touchdown in an open field before moving over their farmstead. Minor damage to a garage door and garage siding occurred along with multiple uprooted trees and snapped trunks. Tree limbs and branches were tossed in multiple directions.

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

The warnings

No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 20:15 UTC and running to 02:04 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
11:40 UTC12:15 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR
20:15 UTC02:04 UTCTornado WatchABR
01:03 UTC01:45 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR
01:12 UTC01:45 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR
01:38 UTC02:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR

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 Enhanced Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 00:55 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.

Aberdeen, SD (KABR), 00:00Z

1.5 hours before the tornado, 180 km from the path. June 14, 2017.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Aberdeen, SD at 00:00Z on 2017-06-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 118 joules per kilogram, CIN -325, lifted condensation level 1575 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Aberdeen, SD at 00:00Z on 2017-06-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 279 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 62 knots.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
118 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-325 J/kg
Surface CAPE
111 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1575 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
62 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
279 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
479 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
10.8
0-3 km lapse rate
4.1 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Aberdeen, SD (KABR), 12:00Z

10.5 hours after it, 180 km from the path. June 14, 2017.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Aberdeen, SD at 12:00Z on 2017-06-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 0 joules per kilogram, CIN -73515, lifted condensation level 1996 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Aberdeen, SD at 12:00Z on 2017-06-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -5 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 38 knots.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-73515 J/kg
Surface CAPE
3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1996 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-5 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
46 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
5.8 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The radar

The Aberdeen radar (KABR), 163 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 01:30 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.

What was reported nearby

Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.

Time (UTC)ReportWhereCountyRemark
23:22 UTCFUNNEL CLOUD1 N HollowaySwift, MNPICTURE SUBMITTED VIA TWITTER.
23:45 UTCHAIL 1.5HancockStevens, MN
23:45 UTCTORNADO2 S HancockStevens, MNTHERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS CALLS ABOUT A TORNADO TOUCHING DOWN SOUTH OF HANCOCK.
00:00 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Sw CyrusStevens, MNTREES DOWN.
00:00 UTCTORNADO4 N HancockStevens, MN
00:00 UTCTORNADO4 N HancockStevens, MN
00:04 UTCTORNADO2 W CyrusStevens, MNVIDEO SHOWS STRONG TORNADO, AND TRUSTED STORM TRACKER REPORTED DAMAGE TO A SUB-STATION SOUTH OF HWY 28. TIME BASED ON SPOTTER REPORTS AND RADAR.
00:04 UTCTORNADO2 Wsw CyrusStevens, MNVIDEO SHOWS STRONG TORNADO, AND TRUSTED STORM TRACKER REPORTED DAMAGE TO A SUB-STATION SOUTH OF HWY 28. TIME BASED ON SPOTTER REPORTS AND RADAR.
00:05 UTCHAIL 11 Ne NashuaWilkin, MNA FEW DIME TO QUARTER SIZED HAIL AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN.
00:20 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Nw OrtonvilleBig Stone, MNDAMAGE TO SHED, LARGE BRANCH BROKE OFF TREE. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
00:22 UTCHAIL 1.25DonnellyStevens, MNPHOTO SUBMITTED VIA FACEBOOK.
00:25 UTCFUNNEL CLOUD4 Ssw HoffmanGrant, MNFUNNEL MOVING UP FROM SOUTH.
00:25 UTCFUNNEL CLOUD4 Ssw HoffmanGrant, MNFUNNEL MOVING UP FROM SOUTH. STORM HAD PRODUCED EARLIER TOUCHDOWN IN ADJACENT PORTIONS OF NORTHERN STEVENS COUNTY.
01:05 UTCTSTM WND DMGHermanGrant, MNSCATTERED LARGE BRANCHES AND TREE LIMBS DOWN AROUND TOWN. ONE 12 INCH DIAMETER TREE BROKEN DOWN.
01:14 UTCTSTM WND DMG6 Nne NassauLac Qui Parle, MNNUMEROUS TREES DOWNED OR SNAPPED NEAR INTERSECTION OF 330TH ST. AND 121ST AVE WEST OF BELLINGHAM. A FEW TREES ALSO DOWN IN COMMUNITY OF ROSEN.
01:20 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Nnw OrtonvilleBig Stone, MNMULTIPLE UPROOTED TREES AT THE ORTONVILLE GOLF COURSE. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
01:20 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Nw OrtonvilleBig Stone, MNLARGE TREE BRANCH FELL ON HOUSE. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
01:20 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Nw OrtonvilleBig Stone, MNPATIO RIPPED OFF HOUSE, SUBSEQUENT ROOF DAMAGE OCCURRED.
01:20 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 Wnw ArtichokeBig Stone, MN13 MILES NE OF ORTONVILLE. WIND CAVED IN THE SIDES OF TWO GRAIN BINS. WIND ESTIMATE 70+ MPH.
01:20 UTCTSTM WND DMGOrtonvilleBig Stone, MNMULTIPLE TREES SNAPPED, MULTIPLE LARGE BRANCHES DOWN, AND ELECTRICAL LINES DOWN.
01:20 UTCTSTM WND GST 584 Se Bonanza GroveBig Stone, MNTIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
01:20 UTCTSTM WND GST 588 Ne CoronaRoberts, SDTIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
01:23 UTCTSTM WND GST 701 W OdessaBig Stone, MNTIME ESTIMATED.
01:23 UTCTSTM WND GST 70OdessaBig Stone, MNTIME ESTIMATED.
01:25 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Ssw BarryBig Stone, MNLOSS OF WALL MACHINE SHED WALL AND DAMAGE TO MACHINE SHED ROOF. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
01:27 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Sse GracevilleBig Stone, MNCOLLAPSE OF MACHINE SHED WALLS. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
01:27 UTCTORNADO2 W GracevilleBig Stone, MNSHORT LIVED.
01:27 UTCTORNADO4 N ClintonBig Stone, MNPARTIAL ROOF TORN OFF OF HOUSE, SIDING DAMAGE TO HOUSE, MACHINE SHED WITH COLLAPSED ROOF AND WALLS, MACHINE SHED WITH CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO SOUTHWEST SECTION, EMPTY GRAIN BIN REMOVED FROM CEMENT BASE AND TOSSED, WIDESPR
01:29 UTCTSTM WND DMGClintonBig Stone, MNMULTIPLE TREES SNAPPED AND UPROOTED IN CLINTON.
01:30 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Wnw JohnsonBig Stone, MNCOMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF AN OPEN FACED SHED. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
01:30 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Wnw JohnsonTraverse, MNLARGE TREE BRANCHES DOWN. RADAR TIME ESTIMATED.
01:30 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Wsw JohnsonBig Stone, MNMINOR DAMAGE TO ROOF OF BARN. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
01:30 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 Ene OdessaBig Stone, MNDENTED GRAIN BINS, SECTION OF MACHINE SHED ROOF REMOVED, GRAIN AUGER TIPPED, WINDOW BROKEN. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
01:30 UTCTSTM WND DMG7 Ne OrtonvilleBig Stone, MNDAMAGE TO OUTBUILDING. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
01:30 UTCTORNADO2 Nw JohnsonTraverse, MNRESIDENT SAW THE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN, SIGNIFICANT TREE DAMAGE ON THE PROPERTY, TIME RADAR ESTIMATED.
01:35 UTCTSTM WND DMGJohnsonBig Stone, MNPARTIAL LOSS OF ROOF. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
01:35 UTCTSTM WND GST 613 Wsw GracevilleBig Stone, MN
01:35 UTCTSTM WND DMGTenneyWilkin, MNLARGE GRAIN FACILITY COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED.INCLUDING RAIL CARS.
01:40 UTCHAIL 1.252 E CampbellWilkin, MN
01:45 UTCTSTM WND DMGTintahTraverse, MNMANY LARGE LIMBS DOWNED.

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2017 tornado in MinnesotaEvery tornado in Minnesota since 1950Warnings in force in Minnesota nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of June 13, 2017

12 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 134:16 PM CDTEF0Hand, SD0.110
June 134:25 PM CDTEF1Hand, SD0.3175
June 134:32 PM CDTEF0Hand, SD0.110
June 136:05 PM CDTEF0Brown, SD0.110
June 136:45 PM CDTEF0Stevens, MN1.535
June 136:56 PM CDTEF1Stevens, MN3.0300
June 137:28 PM CDTEF0Grant, MN0.575
June 137:29 PM CDTEF1Day, SD0.240
June 137:55 PM CDTEF0Marshall, SD0.150
June 138:20 PM CDTEF1Roberts, SD0.4100
June 138:25 PM CDTEF0Roberts, SD0.190
June 138:27 PM CDTEF1Big Stone, MN0.3170

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.