Severe Thunderstorms Possible in Northern Plains; Critical Fire Weather in Central Plains

Strong to severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds are possible in parts of the Dakotas and western Minnesota through tonight. Meanwhile, dry and very hot weather will result in critical fire weather conditions for parts of the central Plains. An area of low pressure in the western Gulf of Mexico may bring heavy rainfall to parts of coastal Texas by Thursday. Read More >

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Overview

***All information is considered preliminary until investigations are finalized***

Damaging winds and tornadoes looked to be the main threats, as a bowing line of severe thunderstorms lifted northeast through western Minnesota into central Minnesota during the late afternoon and early evening on Memorial Day, May 30th. Numerous reports of damage were received. *Additional information will be added on this page in the coming days.

Damaged homes, cars, and trees in Forada Minnesota

Damage in Forada, MN

Tornado
Photos & Video
Radar
Storm Reports
Environment

Tornadoes:

Tornado #1- 3 NNW Milan, MN
Chippewa/Swift County

Date	5/30/2022
Time (Local)	3:39pm - 3:41pm
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	90 mph
Path Length	1.8 miles
Max Width	100 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A brief tornado developed about 3 miles north northwest of Milan. It uprooted several trees and significantly damaged farm outbuildings.

Track Map

EF-Scale

Tornado #2- 5 SW Danvers to 7 NW Clontarf, MN
Swift/Stevens/Pope County

Date	5/30/2022
Time (Local)	3:40pm - 4:01pm
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	100 mph
Path Length	18.6 miles
Max Width	350 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Tornado developed about 5 miles southwest of Danvers and tracked north until an outflow boundary caught up with it, then the tornado tracked northeast to 7 miles northwest of Clontarf. Several wooden poles with electrical transmission lines were snapped. Irrigation systems were overturned, trees were damaged, and some structural damage to homes and farm outbuildings also resulted.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #3- 3 N Holloway, MN
Swift County

Date	5/30/2022
Time (Local)	3:49pm - 3:56pm
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	90 mph
Path Length	7.2 miles
Max Width	100 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Tornado developed 3.5 miles north of Holloway and tracked north about 7 miles. One barn was shifted off its foundation and another farmstead sustained damage to all outbuildings.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #4- Near Lake Emily, MN
Pope County

Date	5/30/2022
Time (Local)	4:04pm - 4:08pm
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	95 mph
Path Length	5.5 miles
Max Width	100 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Tornado spun up just west of Lake Emily and tracked northeast. Some trees were snapped and farm outbuildings were damaged.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #5- 4 W Starbuck, MN
Pope County

Date	5/30/2022
Time (Local)	4:13pm - 4:19pm
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	90 mph
Path Length	6.8 miles
Max Width	200 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Tornado developed about 4 miles west of Starbuck and tracked northeast. A small outbuilding was completely destroyed and debris was spread north northwest. Truck and trailer overturned on highway 28.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #6 - Forada, MN
Pope/Douglas County

Date	5/30/2022
Time (Local)	4:27pm - 4:47pm
EF Rating	EF-2
Est. Peak Winds	120 mph
Path Length	19.7 miles
Max Width	1/2 mile
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Tornado spun up east of Lake Reno near Forada and tracked north-northeast to 5 miles east of Carlos. Maximum winds of 120mph. Max width was 1/2 mile on the south side of Maple Lake.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #7 - Eagle Bend, MN
Todd County

Date	5/30/2022
Time (Local)	5:00pm - 5:17pm
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	100 mph
Path Length	15.4 miles
Max Width	800 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Tornado spun up 2 SSW of Eagle Bend and tracked northeast to 5 SW of Staples. Maximum winds were 100 mph and maximum width was 800 yards.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #8 - Plato, MN
McLeod/Carver/Wright County

Date	5/30/2022
Time (Local)	6:12pm - 6:28pm
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	90 mph
Path Length	18.2 miles
Max Width	400 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Tornado spun up south of the Glencoe Municipal Airfield and tracked north-northeast 6 SW of Montrose.

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 & Video

Forada, MN Tornado


Damage in Forada	Tree Uprooted in Forada	Building Damage in Forada	Building Damage in Forada

McLeod County Tornado


Pole Barn Damage near Plato, MN	Tree Damage near Plato, MN	Extensive Tree Damage near Plato, MN	Uprooted Trees southeast of Lester Prairie, MN

Radar

Radar imagery of confirmed tornadoes


Radar reflectivity (left) and storm relative velocity (right) at 4:07pm. Velocity shows strong rotation near Cyrus, MN. (Radar beam is at 12kft)	Radar reflectivity (left) and storm relative velocity (right) at 4:29pm. Velocity shows strong rotation approaching Forada, MN. (Radar beam is at 11kft)	Radar reflectivity (left) and storm relative velocity (right) at 5:02pm Velocity shows strong rotation near Eagle Bend, MN. (Radar beam is at 12.5kft)	Radar reflectivity (left) and storm relative velocity (right) at 6:17pm Velocity shows rotational couplet near Plato, MN. (Radar beam is at 1.5kft)

Storm Reports

Locations of preliminary reports of severe weather across the area, including damaging straight-line winds, large hail, and tornadoes.

Find the latest reports and information for each one at this updated interactive map.

Environment

Insert synoptic summary.


7pm 250mb map showing an amplified trough over the western CONUS. Strong synoptic-scale lift is implied over MN at the nose of the jetstreak and within the diffluence in the wind field.	7pm 850mb map showing a deep, closed low over northwest MN. A very strong LLJ (45kt wind barb at MPX) has dragged ample moisture into the Upper Midwest.	8:30pm surface map showing a deep surface low with a warm front extending east across MN while an arcing cold front trails south.

Near-storm environment summary.


4pm map of surface-based CAPE. Strong instability is analyzed over southern to south-central MN with +3000 J/kg of CAPE.	4pm map of effective bulk shear. 60 to +70 knots of shear across MN signals a very favorable environment for rotating thunderstorm updrafts.	4pm map of effective storm relative helicity. Higher values mean a more favorable environment for faster rotating updrafts.

Additional environmental data.


4pm map of the Significant Tornado Parameter showing a very favorable environment for tornadoes over western and south-central MN.	3pm sounding from Chanhassen, MN.	7pm sounding from Chanhassen, MN.

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Severe Thunderstorms Possible in Northern Plains; Critical Fire Weather in Central Plains

Severe Weather Summary for May 30th