Overview
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A significant tornado outbreak occurred on Friday April 17 2026 across the Upper Midwest. Thunderstorms developed in the early afternoon around 1 pm along a cold front in southeast Minnesota and along a warm front in western Wisconsin yielding two waves of storms for many. Tornadoes quickly formed from these storms as they grew and moved east. The supercell storms, natures most organized and damaging, shifted east through the afternoon, finally exiting central Wisconsin after 630 pm. The most tornadoes occurred locally north of Interstate 90 in southeast Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin. Preliminary reports suggest over 100 homes were damaged. So far, only one person sustained minor injuries in Iowa. With 10 tornadoes, this outbreak is our largest April tornado outbreak. |
 Radar loop from approximately1-8 pm April 17 2026 |
Tornadoes
Select a tornado from the table to zoom into the track and view more information. The default table view is limited to 8 tracks, but can be scrolled by a mouse wheel or dynamically expanded. Additionally, the table can fill the entire window by clicking the small circular expanding arrow icon at the very top right of the table and returned to its original size by clicking the button again. The side information panel that opens over the map can be closed using the "X" on the upper right corner of the pop-up. Zoom into the map and click damage points to see detailed information and pictures from the surveys.
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NOTE: times shown below are local to your device's time zone. |
The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
| EF0 Weak 65-85 mph |
EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph |
EF2 Significant 111-135 mph |
EF3 Severe 136-165 mph |
EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph |
EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph |
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| Tornadoes that fail to impact any ratable damage indicators on the EF-Scale are rated EF-Unknown (EF-U) | |||||
Photos & Video
Tornadoes near Rochester
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| Near Simpson, SW of RST (Rob Lichner) |
East and North of Airport (Rob Lichner) |
Around 230 pm (Sean Kelly) |
Around 230 pm (Sean Kelly) |
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| Looking SE from Downtown (Jesse Wheeler) |
Looking Toward Rock Dell @ 153 pm (Sean Kelly) |
Around 230 pm (Sean Kelly) |
Around 230 pm |
Buffalo County WI
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| Near Waumandee (Bri Rotering) |
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Hail
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| 1.5" hail in northwest Rochester, MN (Erin Swenson) |
Half dollar size hail in St. Charles, MN (Amy Collins) |
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Storm Reports
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Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
108 PM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026
** Note these reports will not mention the tornadoes surveyed after 9 am 4/18 **
** See the 'Tornado' tab above for information on the tornadoes that occurred **
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0136 PM Hail 1 W Hayfield 43.89N 92.87W
04/17/2026 M1.75 Inch Dodge MN Emergency Mngr
0137 PM Hail Hayfield 43.89N 92.85W
04/17/2026 M1.00 Inch Dodge MN Emergency Mngr
0141 PM Hail Hayfield 43.89N 92.85W
04/17/2026 M1.00 Inch Dodge MN Public
0145 PM Hail Mantorville 44.07N 92.76W
04/17/2026 M0.25 Inch Dodge MN Cocorahs
0145 PM Hail 1 S Kasson 44.01N 92.75W
04/17/2026 M1.00 Inch Dodge MN Emergency Mngr
0145 PM Hail Kasson 44.03N 92.75W
04/17/2026 M0.88 Inch Dodge MN Trained Spotter
0146 PM Hail Kasson 44.03N 92.75W
04/17/2026 E0.25 Inch Dodge MN Public
0146 PM Hail Hayfield 43.89N 92.85W
04/17/2026 M1.00 Inch Dodge MN Public
0150 PM Tornado 5 NE Sargeant 43.86N 92.73W
04/17/2026 Dodge MN Law Enforcement
Sheriff deputy reported that a tornado
formed and dissipated and then a second
tornado touched down.
0203 PM Hail Boscobel 43.14N 90.70W
04/17/2026 M0.70 Inch Grant WI Trained Spotter
0204 PM Hail Dexter 43.72N 92.70W
04/17/2026 M1.00 Inch Mower MN Public
0212 PM Hail 5 ESE Douglas 44.09N 92.48W
04/17/2026 E0.70 Inch Olmsted MN Cocorahs
0213 PM Hail 4 N Rochester 44.07N 92.48W
04/17/2026 M1.75 Inch Olmsted MN Trained Spotter
0213 PM Hail 3 SE Douglas 44.08N 92.54W
04/17/2026 E1.00 Inch Olmsted MN Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
0215 PM Hail 2 WNW Oronoco 44.17N 92.57W
04/17/2026 M1.00 Inch Olmsted MN Public
0215 PM Hail 2 SE Douglas 44.09N 92.55W
04/17/2026 M0.25 Inch Olmsted MN Public
0217 PM Tornado 1 N Stewartville 43.87N 92.49W
04/17/2026 Olmsted MN NWS Storm Survey
This EF-2 tornado (estimated peak wind 130
mph) formed just northeast of Stewartville
around 2:17 pm and traveled about 10 miles
northeast damaging numerous homes and farms.
Some of the worst damage was seen near
Marion Road just northeast of Highway 52
where homes were more severely damaged with
roof removal and partially collapsed
exterior walls. The tornado was on the
ground for about 14 minutes using radar
estimation. At its widest, mainly in rural
areas, it was approximately 175 yards.
0225 PM Funnel Cloud 5 N Stewartville 43.93N 92.49W
04/17/2026 Olmsted MN Trained Spotter
Trained spotter to their southeast.
0232 PM Tornado 4 N Stewartville 43.92N 92.49W
04/17/2026 Olmsted MN Public
Rochester Tower reported tornado on the
ground near Highway 63.
0245 PM Hail 8 NW Thorp 45.04N 90.92W
04/17/2026 M1.00 Inch Taylor WI Trained Spotter
0247 PM Tornado 1 NNW Saratoga 43.38N 92.41W
04/17/2026 Howard IA Emergency Mngr
*** 1 INJ ***
Tornado confirmed via photos from Riceville
firefighter. One house reported damaged. A
box truck was also directly hit by the
tornado and forced into a ditch. The driver
appeared to have minor injuries.
0253 PM Tornado 2 NNW Elgin 44.16N 92.27W
04/17/2026 Wabasha MN Public
Tornado touched down north of Elgin where it
flipped a semi. It caused damage on 2
farmsteads. Ended 1 3/4 miles north of 247
near County Rd 2.
0257 PM Tornado 4 S Plainview 44.11N 92.17W
04/17/2026 Wabasha MN Public
Tornado caused roof damage and removed a
barn off of its foundation at 50500 County
Rd, Plainview, MN. Residents saw the tornado
and took shelter in a basement. No injuries.
0300 PM Hail Saint Charles 43.97N 92.06W
04/17/2026 M1.50 Inch Winona MN Public
0305 PM Hail Saint Charles 43.97N 92.06W
04/17/2026 E1.25 Inch Winona MN Public
0305 PM Hail Saint Charles 43.97N 92.06W
04/17/2026 M1.50 Inch Winona MN Public
0305 PM Hail Altura 44.07N 91.94W
04/17/2026 M1.00 Inch Winona MN Emergency Mngr
0306 PM Hail 1 S Tomah 43.98N 90.50W
04/17/2026 M0.25 Inch Monroe WI Public
0310 PM Hail 3 SE Douglas 44.08N 92.53W
04/17/2026 M1.25 Inch Olmsted MN Public
0315 PM Hail Tomah 43.99N 90.50W
04/17/2026 M0.88 Inch Monroe WI Amateur Radio
0315 PM Hail 1 S Tomah 43.98N 90.50W
04/17/2026 M0.88 Inch Monroe WI Public
0319 PM Hail Tomah 43.99N 90.50W
04/17/2026 M1.00 Inch Monroe WI Public
0319 PM Hail Tomah 43.99N 90.50W
04/17/2026 E1.00 Inch Monroe WI Public
0319 PM Hail Rollingstone 44.10N 91.82W
04/17/2026 E1.00 Inch Winona MN Public
0327 PM Tornado Cream 44.32N 91.77W
04/17/2026 Buffalo WI NWS Storm Survey
This EF3 tornado (maximum estimated wind
speed 140 mph) formed a few miles southwest
of the town of Cream around 3:27 pm and
traveled 8 miles to the northeast finally
lifting north of Montana around 3:43 pm. The
tornado damaged a family home residence of
good construction removing many exterior
walls and the roof near State Road 88 south
of Cream. This damage suggests lower EF3
wind speeds. The upstream damage to trees
suggests the tornado intensified heading
into this area. Many trees were downed or
snapped on the path with farm outbuildings
also being destroyed.
0351 PM Hail Mondovi 44.57N 91.67W
04/17/2026 E0.88 Inch Buffalo WI Public
Dime to nickel size hail in Mondovi. Relayed
from Eau Claire County comm center.
0356 PM Hail Harpers Ferry 43.20N 91.15W
04/17/2026 E1.00 Inch Allamakee IA Public
0400 PM Hail Cassville 42.72N 90.99W
04/17/2026 M0.25 Inch Grant WI Public
Pea size hail for 5 minutes.
0418 PM Hail Postville 43.08N 91.57W
04/17/2026 E1.00 Inch Allamakee IA Emergency Mngr
Quarter size hail in Postville relayed from
Emergency Manager.
0422 PM Hail 2 SE Lancaster 42.83N 90.68W
04/17/2026 M0.88 Inch Grant WI Emergency Mngr
Nickel size hail at Sheriffs office
southeast of Lancaster.
0427 PM Tornado 5 E Osseo 44.58N 91.12W
04/17/2026 Jackson WI Law Enforcement
An officer reported a tornado near the
intersection of County Rd M and Highway 10
heading east.
0427 PM Tornado 1 W Osseo 44.58N 91.24W
04/17/2026 Trempealeau WI Trained Spotter
Numerous houses and trees damaged along
County Rd K and Old 17.
0429 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 SE Osseo 44.54N 91.16W
04/17/2026 Jackson WI Public
Numerous tree damage.
0436 PM Rain 4 SE Douglas 44.08N 92.51W
04/17/2026 M1.74 Inch Olmsted MN Public
0442 PM Tornado 4 NNE Black River Falls 44.35N 90.82W
04/17/2026 Jackson WI Storm Chaser
Rain-wrapped tornado observed by storm
chasers.
0508 PM Hail 1 SE Prairie Du Chien 43.03N 91.13W
04/17/2026 M1.00 Inch Crawford WI Public
0510 PM Hail Prairie Du Chien 43.04N 91.14W
04/17/2026 E0.25 Inch Crawford WI Public
Radar
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Environment
A large scale upper trough approached the upper midwest. This brought cooler temperatures aloft and warm, moist air near the ground, a setup with lots
of "fuel" for thunderstorms. It also brought strong winds out of the southwest aloft and breezy winds out of the south-southeast near the ground - this
difference in winds is known as wind shear and is the other ingredient needed for severe storms.
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| Figure 1: 250mb (about 34 kft) weather chart showing a large scale upper trough with strong winds out of the southwest ahead. | Figure 2: 500mb (about 18 kft) weather chart. Strong winds out of the southwest are overspreading the area. | Figure 3: 925mb (about 2500 feet) weather chart. Warm, moist air is being pulled northward from the Gulf. |
Near-storm environment summary.
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| Figure 4: Animation of estimated MLCAPE (fuel for thunderstorms). Values over 2500 J/kg were present, supporting the development of potentially severe storms. | Figure 5: Animation of estimated bulk wind shear. In addition to fuel, strong shear is needed for severe thunderstorms. We had strong shear as well on April 17. | Figure 6: Animation of surface to 500 meter helicity, a measure of wind shear in the lowest part of the atmosphere. Strong shear in the lowest part of the atmosphere - that we had on April 17 - is needed for severe thunderstorms to produce tornadoes. |
Additional environmental data.
| Figure 7: Caption | Figure 8: Caption | Figure 9: Caption |
NWS La Crosse Services
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| Severe Storm Threat Friday (Issued: Wednesday) |
Severe Storm Threat Friday (Issued: Thursday) |
Severe Storm Threat Friday (Issued: Friday) |
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| Short Term Forecast Graphic (Issued: Friday at 115pm ) |
Short Term Forecast Graphic (Issued: Friday at 240pm ) |
Short Term Forecast Graphic (Issued: Friday at 406pm ) |
Caption (source) |
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