Twin Cities, MN

Weather Forecast Office

Summary of August 14, 2020 Severe Weather Event

Overview

Severe thunderstorms developed across Western Minnesota Friday afternoon, August 14th. These storms produced several tornadoes across the region, as well as numerous reports of wind damage. Survey results are preliminary and not an exhaustive list of all tornadoes that were reported.

Thank you to all weather spotters, public, media partners, and law enforcement that relayed reports and helped build a Weather Ready Nation.

Preliminary results indicated that over 20 tornadoes occurred in Minnesota with 16 in the NWS Twin Cities forecast area. 3 of the 16 tornadoes were of EF-1 strength.

Biscay Tornado - Photo Courtesy of Sahoosan Meyers Clark

Tornado
Photos & Video
Radar
Environment

Tornadoes:

Tornado - Farwell
POPE COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	4:17 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	75 mph
Path Length	1.2 miles
Max Width	75 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An NWS survey found damage consistent with an EF-0 tornado in Pope County. The tornado travelled northeast for 1.2 miles, clipping the town of Farwell. Large tree branches were broken and several power poles were downed.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Osakis
DOUGLAS COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	4:45 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	65 mph
Path Length	0.6 miles
Max Width	50 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Several large branches broken. The tornado mostly moved over soybean fields, but did clip a grove of trees. Video of the tornado was filmed by a storm chaser.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Lincoln
TODD COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	4:53 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	90 mph
Path Length	5.9 miles
Max Width	200 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An NWS survey found damage consistent with an EF-1 tornado in northeastern Todd County about 6 miles west of Cushing. The tornado touched down 0.2 miles northwest of Big Lake and traveled north-northeast for nearly 6 miles. The tornado mainly uprooted trees, but did minor damage to a couple of metal buildings in Lincoln before dissipating.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - West Union
TODD COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	4:57 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	70 mph
Path Length	1 mile
Max Width	125 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Several dozen broken trees. A garage was rotated slightly, its door was bowed out, and a few shingles were damaged.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Spicer/Green Lake
KANDIYOHI COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	5:37 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	70 mph
Path Length	6.6 miles
Max Width	50 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An NWS Survey found EF-0 tornado damage along and south of Green Lake in Spicer, MN. In addition to several trees snapped, docks along the lake sustained damage. There was a report of a restaurant that lost its roof, but the surveyor was unable to contact the owner. This path may be updated once more information becomes available.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Ripley Township
MORRISON COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	5:41 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	5.8 miles
Max Width	200 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An NWS survey found damage consistent with an EF-0 tornado in northern Morrison County about 7 miles northeast of Little Falls. It traveled northeast for almost 6 miles snapping large tree branches, uprooting trees and causing minor damage to a few outbuildings.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Brownton
MCLEOD COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	5:44 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	2.2 miles
Max Width	300 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An NWS Survey found damage consistent with an EF-0 tornado in Mcleod County north of Brownton. Several trees were snapped, a trailer was overturned, and a metal grain silo wall was damaged and collapsed. There were numerous photos and videos of this tornado shared on social media.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Kandiyohi/Meeker County Line
KANDIYOHI COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	5:45 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	7.7 miles
Max Width	85 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An NWS Survey found EF-0 tornado damage along the Kandiyohi and Meeker County line. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. This tornado (See image), started at Diamond Lake, southeast of Spicer.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Bowlus
MORRISON COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	5:49 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	70 mph
Path Length	1.3 miles
Max Width	65 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: The tornado mostly moved over a field and open land, but it did hit some trees, downing large branches and breaking a few trees. Downburst wind damage was noted adjacent to the tornado.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Irving Township
KANDIYOHI COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	5:49 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	90 mph
Path Length	3.5 miles
Max Width	50 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Storm chaser video showed this tornado and drone video the next day showed the damage path. The tornado destroyed one large shed and heavily damaged another. This tornado (See image) started east of Green Lake or Spicer.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Biscay/Glencoe
MCLEOD COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	5:50 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	95 mph
Path Length	2.4 miles
Max Width	250 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An NWS Survey found damage consistent with an EF-1 tornado in Mcleod County between Biscay and Glencoe. Maximum wind speeds of 95 MPH snapped and uprooted several trees and damaged outbuildings. There were numerous photos and videos of this tornado shared on social media.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Hillman
MORRISON COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	6:09 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	80 mph
Path Length	3 miles
Max Width	150 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An NWS survey found damage consistent with an EF-0 tornado in eastern Morrison county about 2 miles southeast of Hillman. It traveled east-northeast for nearly 3 miles uprooting trees along its path.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Lake Minnie Belle
MEEKER COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	6:27 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	70 mph
Path Length	1 mile
Max Width	25 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: The tornado mostly tracked across corn fields, but it did strike a grove of trees and knock down some large tree limbs before dissipating.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Waconia
CARVER COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	6:49 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	70 mph
Path Length	0.3 miles
Max Width	75 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An NWS Survey indicated a brief EF-0, which was also observed by people nearby. The tornado touched down just off shore on the western edge of Reitz Lake, and moved inland. It caused damage to a boat lift, boat, and several trees before dissipating just north of Airport Road.

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Greenfield
HENNEPIN COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	7:32 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	70 mph
Path Length	0.4 mile
Max Width	65 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A weak tornado moved across a farmstead, knocking down large branches, flattening a corn field, and blowing out a door of a hoop barn. The tornado was caught on video by a storm chaser.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Crystal
HENNEPIN COUNTY

Date	8/14/2020
Time (Local)	7:55 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	75 mph
Path Length	0.4 miles
Max Width	50 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An NWS Survey indicated a brief EF-0 moved across the city of Crystal, MN.The tornado started near Memory Lane Park, between 43rd and 44th Avenue North and Jersey Avenue North. A large tree was uprooted at this location. This tornado moved eastward between 43rd and 44th Avenue and damaged several large trees, up to 4 feet in diameter, along its path. The tornado lifted near Douglas Drive North. Some roof damage occurred, but the majority of the trees and large limbs fell on power lines, roads, and yards. There was also damage on 45th Avenue North, but the damage was consistent with downburst winds and more sporadic. The majority of the damage in the broad area of New Hope, Crystal, North Minneapolis, and Robbinsdale was from downburst winds.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

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

Photos


Brownton Tornado (Photo Brett LaBare)	Farwell Tornado (Photo Weather Unrated)	Glencoe Tornado (Photo Sahoosan M Clark)	Irving Township Tornado Irving Township Near 160th Street, North of 124th Ave - Looking East (Photo - Tyler Olson)

Kandiyohi/Meeker Tornado Meeker County Road 25, Looking West Along Meeker County Road 3 (Photo - Tyler Olson)

Radar

Brownton-Tornado

(Hook-Echo Reflectivity)

Brownton - Tornado

(Storm Relative Motion - SRM)

Biscay/Glencoe - Tornado

(Hook Echo Reflectivity)

Biscay/Glencoe - Tornado

(Storm Relative Motion - SRM)

Environment

During the afternoon, the environment became very conducive for severe thunderstorms. The afternoon sounding at the Chanhassen NWS office indicated a very favorable environment for severe storms. A surface boundary provided the focus for several of the tornadoes that occurred across central and southern Minnesota.


Figure 1: Afternoon Sounding	Figure 2: Afternoon Surface Analysis	Figure 3: Mesoscale Discussion SPC 2 PM

Additional severe weather parameters. (From SPC)


Figure 4: Late Afternoon MLCAPE & No CIN	Figure 5: 500 MB Short Wave 40-50 Knots	Figure 6: Effective Bulk Shear 40-50 Knots

Additional severe weather parameters. (From SPC)


Figure 7: SCP or Supercell Composite Parameter	Figure 8: STP or Significant Tornado Parameter	Figure 9: Effective SRH (Storm Relative Helicity)

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Lake-effect Snow and Whiteout Conditions in the Great Lakes Region; Below-average Temperatures in the East

Summary of August 14, 2020 Severe Weather Event