Tornadoes · United States · Minnesota · 2022
EF2 tornado, Rochert to Midway, Minnesota, June 24, 2022
From Rochert to Midway, this EF2 tornado ran 30.9 miles across Becker County on June 24, 2022, touching down at 9:58 PM CDT and reaching 600 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 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mphthis tornado
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
- EF2
- Date
- June 24, 2022
- Touchdown
- 9:58 PM CDT (02:58 UTC)
- Lifted
- 10:35 PM CDT (03:35 UTC)
- On the ground
- 37 minutes
- Path length
- 30.9 miles (49.7 km)
- Path width
- 600 yards (549 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Becker County
- Touchdown point
- 46.860, -95.690
- Lift-off point
- 46.728, -95.066
- Record number
- 2206242058-01
What the Weather Service recorded
Two rounds of severe thunderstorms produced large hail and gusty winds across the northern Red River Valley and into northwest Minnesota. Hail up to 2.75 inches was reported.
This tornado was likely wrapped in downburst winds for portions of its nearly 31 mile path through Little Toad Lake, Toad Lake, and Wolf Lake, ending around 2 se of Menagha by 1035 pm cdt. Numerous pine, oak, and poplar trees were violently snapped or uprooted along with several wooden power poles. Farm outbuilding roofs were ripped off. A modern hog barn, an older style barn, and several smaller outbuildings were blown down at various farmsteads. Max winds to 115 mph, with a max width of 600 yards.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
3 minutes of warning. NWS FGF issued a tornado warning for this county at 02:55 UTC, 3 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 03:45 UTC.
The county was under a severe thunderstorm watch, issued at 00:19 UTC and running to 05:45 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:19 UTC | 05:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | FGF |
| 01:36 UTC | 02:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FGF |
| 02:24 UTC | 03:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FGF |
| 02:55 UTC | 03:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | FGF |
| 03:03 UTC | 03:48 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FGF |
| 03:29 UTC | 03:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | FGF |
| 04:30 UTC | 05:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FGF |
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 0.02 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 01:06 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.
International Fa, MN (KINL), 00:00Z
3.0 hours before the tornado, 251 km from the path. June 25, 2022.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1341 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -84 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 2735 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1379 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 19 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 3 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 7 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 33 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.1
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.9 K/km
International Fa, MN (KINL), 12:00Z
9.0 hours after it, 251 km from the path. June 25, 2022.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 47 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -9 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 19 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 532 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 44 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 30 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 197 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 218 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.0 K/km
The radar
The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 168 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 02:59 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) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02:01 UTC | TSTM WND GST 59 | 4 Sse Mahnomen | Mahnomen, MN | PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE MNDOT RWIS ON HIGHWAY 59. |
| 02:01 UTC | TSTM WND GST 59 | 4 Sse Mahnomen | Mahnomen, MN | PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE MNDOT RWIS ON HIGHWAY 59. |
| 02:16 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 3 Wsw Naytahwaush | Mahnomen, MN | THIS TORNADO WAS LIKELY WRAPPED IN DOWNBURST WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN AS IS TRACKED EAST NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS NORTH TWIN LAKE AND THE COMMUNITY OF NAYTAHWAUSH, ENDING AROUND 1 ENE OF TOWN BY 923 PM CDT. THE TORNADO SNAPPED O |
| 02:16 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 3 Wsw Naytahwaush | Mahnomen, MN | THIS TORNADO WAS LIKELY WRAPPED IN DOWNBURST WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN AS IS TRACKED EAST NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS NORTH TWIN LAKE AND THE COMMUNITY OF NAYTAHWAUSH, ENDING AROUND 1 ENE OF TOWN BY 923 PM CDT. THE TORNADO SNAPPED O |
| 02:45 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 S Zerkel | Clearwater, MN | SEVERAL PINE AND POPLAR TREES BLOWN DOWN ALONG MN200. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. |
| 02:53 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 6 E Richwood | Becker, MN | PHOTO RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA OF A LARGE PINE TREE ON THE ROOF OF THE DISCOVERY CENTER AT TAMARAC NWR. TIME ESTIMATED. |
| 02:53 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Rochert | Becker, MN | BECKER COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE REPORTED WIDESPREAD DAMAGE NEAR THE COTTON LAKE AND ROCHERT AREA. DAMAGE INCLUDED NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN, LARGE TREE FELL INTO KITCHEN OF HOME, NUMEROUS TREES BLOCKING ROADS. TI |
| 02:55 UTC | TSTM WND GST 54 | 2 Wnw Detroit Lakes | Becker, MN | PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE DETROIT LAKES AIRPORT /KDTL?. |
| 02:55 UTC | TSTM WND GST 54 | 2 Wnw Detroit Lakes | Becker, MN | PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE DETROIT LAKES AIRPORT /KDTL?. |
| 02:58 UTC | TORNADO 2 | Rochert | Becker, MN | THIS TORNADO WAS LIKELY WRAPPED IN DOWNBURST WINDS FOR PORTIONS OF ITS NEARLY 31 MILE PATH,THROUGH LITTLE TOAD LAKE, TOAD LAKE, AND WOLF LAKE, ENDING AROUND 2 SE OF MENAHGA BY 1035 PM CDT. NUMEROUS PINE, OAK, AND POPLAR |
| 02:58 UTC | TORNADO 2 | Rochert | Becker, MN | THIS TORNADO WAS LIKELY WRAPPED IN DOWNBURST WINDS FOR PORTIONS OF ITS NEARLY 31 MILE PATH,THROUGH LITTLE TOAD LAKE, TOAD LAKE, AND WOLF LAKE, ENDING AROUND 2 SE OF MENAHGA BY 1035 PM CDT. NUMEROUS PINE, OAK, AND POPLAR |
| 02:58 UTC | TORNADO 2 | Rochert | Becker, MN | THIS TORNADO WAS LIKELY WRAPPED IN DOWNBURST WINDS FOR PORTIONS OF ITSNEARLY 31 MILE PATH,THROUGH LITTLE TOAD LAKE,TOAD LAKE, WOLF LAKE, ENDING AROUND 2 SE OF MENAGHA BY 1035 PM CDT. NUMEROUS PINE, OAK, AND POPLAR TREES |
| 02:59 UTC | TSTM WND GST 72 | 2 N Detroit Lakes | Becker, MN | PEAK WIND MEASURED AT A RAWS STATION. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR AND OTHER NEARBY WIND SENSOR REPORTS. |
| 02:59 UTC | TSTM WND GST 72 | 2 N Detroit Lakes | Becker, MN | PEAK WIND MEASURED AT A RAWS STATION. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR AND OTHER NEARBY WIND SENSOR REPORTS. |
| 03:01 UTC | HAIL 1 | 1 S New York Mills | Otter Tail, MN | |
| 03:02 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Rochert | Becker, MN | BECKER COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE RELAYED REPORT OF GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL NEAR ROCHERT. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. |
| 03:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Wnw Toad Lake | Becker, MN | REPORT OF TRESS DOWN ON CAMPER TRAILERS AT LITTLE TOAD LAKE. POWER LINES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR AND NEARBY WIND SENSOR REPORTS. |
| 03:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Wnw Toad Lake | Becker, MN | REPORT OF TRESS DOWN ON CAMPER TRAILERS AT LITTLE TOAD LAKE. POWER LINES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR AND NEARBY WIND SENSOR REPORTS. |
| 03:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Toad Lake | Becker, MN | REPORT OF TRESS DOWN ON CAMPER TRAILERS. POWER LINES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR AND NEARBY WIND SENSOR REPORTS. |
| 03:20 UTC | TSTM WND GST 67 | Osage | Becker, MN | PEAK WIND MESURED AT THE RWIS STATION IN OSAGE ON HIGHWAY 34. |
| 03:26 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Wsw Menahga | Wadena, MN | LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS SPOTTER NEAR SEBEKA VIEWING ONGOING TORNADO. LOCATION ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR AND REPORTING. |
| 03:30 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Se Lake George | Hubbard, MN | SEVERAL PINE TREES BLOWN DOWN ALONG THE EAST END OF LAKE GEORGE. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. |
| 03:30 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Phelps | Otter Tail, MN | PHOTOS RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA OF A LARGE BRANCH DOWN. BRANCH MEASURED TO BE 10 INCHES IN DIAMETER. TIME ESTIMATED. |
| 03:37 UTC | TSTM WND GST 61 | 2 Ssw Park Rapids | Hubbard, MN | PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE PARK RAPIDS AIRPORT /KPKD/. |
| 03:37 UTC | TSTM WND GST 61 | 2 Ssw Park Rapids | Hubbard, MN | PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE PARK RAPIDS AIRPORT /KPKD/. |
| 03:40 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Ene Emmaville | Hubbard, MN | POWER OUTAGE REPORTED AT CAMP WILDERNESS ON MANTRAP LAKE. |
| 03:40 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Ene Emmaville | Hubbard, MN | POWER OUTAGE REPORTED AT CAMP WILDERNESS ON MANTRAP LAKE. |
| 03:42 UTC | TSTM WND GST 59 | 2 Ssw Park Rapids | Hubbard, MN | SECOND PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE PARK RAPIDS AIRPORT /KPKD/. |
| 03:42 UTC | TSTM WND GST 59 | 2 Ssw Park Rapids | Hubbard, MN | SECOND PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE PARK RAPIDS AIRPORT /KPKD/. |
| 03:42 UTC | TSTM WND GST 61 | 1 Ssw Park Rapids | Hubbard, MN | ASOS STATION KPKD PARK RAPIDS AP MN. |
| 03:55 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Walker | Cass, MN | MN POWER REPORTED AT LEAST 30 TREES DOWNED AROUND THE WALKER AREA ALONG WITH SOME BROKEN POWERLINES. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 03:57 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 S Walker | Cass, MN | CORRECTS TIME ON PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 2 S WALKER. AREA OF TREE DAMAGE WITH MULTIPLE TREES SNAPPED OFF, DOWNING POWER LINES AND BLOCKING THE ROAD. REPORT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA. TIME ESTIMATED OFF RADAR. |
| 03:57 UTC | TSTM WND GST 55 | 2 W Wadena | Otter Tail, MN | PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE WADENA AIRPORT /KADC/. |
| 03:57 UTC | TSTM WND GST 55 | 2 W Wadena | Otter Tail, MN | PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE WADENA AIRPORT /KADC/. |
| 04:01 UTC | HAIL 1 | 1 S New York Mills | Otter Tail, MN | CORRECTED TIME FROM PREVIOUS REPORT. |
| 04:01 UTC | HAIL 1 | 1 S New York Mills | Otter Tail, MN | CORRECTED TIME FROM PREVIOUS REPORT. |
| 04:05 UTC | TSTM WND GST 57 | 2 Wnw Verndale | Wadena, MN | PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE MNDOT RWIS ON HIGHWAY 10. |
| 04:05 UTC | TSTM WND GST 57 | 2 Wnw Verndale | Wadena, MN | PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE MNDOT RWIS ON HIGHWAY 10. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2022 tornado in MinnesotaEvery tornado in Minnesota since 1950Warnings in force in Minnesota nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of June 24, 2022
10 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 24 | 2:56 PM CDT | EF0 | Cavalier, ND | 2.0 | 10 | |||
| June 24 | 3:27 PM CDT | EF1 | Walsh, ND | 2.2 | 100 | |||
| June 24 | 3:42 PM CDT | Unrated | Wells, ND | 0.3 | 25 | |||
| June 24 | 4:52 PM CDT | EF0 | Nelson, ND | 0.7 | 100 | |||
| June 24 | 5:01 PM CDT | EF0 | Nelson, ND | 0.4 | 100 | |||
| June 24 | 5:15 PM CDT | EF0 | Nelson, ND | 1.0 | 100 | |||
| June 24 | 5:34 PM CDT | EF0 | Grand Forks, ND | 2.9 | 100 | |||
| June 24 | 7:40 PM MDT | Unrated | Dundy, NE | 2.1 | 50 | |||
| June 24 | 9:16 PM CDT | EF0 | Pennington, MN | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| June 24 | 9:16 PM CDT | EF1 | Mahnomen, MN | 3.8 | 400 |
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.