Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

7 tornado touchdowns confirmed in Minnesota last night

The Twin Cities NWS has confirmed 7 tornadoes touched down in Minnesota Wednesday night.

All of the tornadoes were EF-0 to EF1 strength. Here's a closer look at the rotational tracks derived from Twin Cities NWS Doppler radar from Wednesday night.

8 16 17 tornado tracks
Twin Cities NWS

Public Information Statement

National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

519 PM CDT Thu Aug 17 2017

...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 08/16/2017 TORNADO EVENT...

.OVERVIEW...A band of heavy rain with embedded tornadoes lifted

north through Minnesota during the afternoon and evening of

August 16 2017.

.NICOLLET TORNADO 1...

Rating: EF-0

Estimated peak wind: 75-80 mph

Path length /Statute/: 1.5 miles

Path width /Maximum/: 75 yards

Fatalities: 0

Injuries: 0

Start date: 08_16_2017

Start time: 446 PM CDT

Start location: 4 S Nicollet, MN

Start Lat/Lon: 44.2368 / -94.1865

End date: 08_16_2017

End time: 452 PM CDT

End location: 2 S Nicollet, MN

End_lat/lon: 44.2561 / -94.1945

SURVEY_SUMMARY: Tornado developed south of Nicollet and

lifted north northwest. It caused mainly tree damage, but

did hit a farmstead and damaged a garage and grove of

trees.

.NICOLLET TORNADO 2...

Rating: EF-0

Estimated peak wind: 55-60 mph

Path length /Statute/: 0.6 miles

Path width /Maximum/: 25 yards

Fatalities: 0

Injuries: 0

Start date: 08_16_2017

Start time: 504 PM CDT

Start location: 5 S Nicollet, MN

Start Lat/Lon: 44.2296 / -94.1783

End date: 08_16_2017

End time: 509 PM CDT

End location: 4 S Nicollet, MN

End_lat/lon: 44.2380 / -94.1783

SURVEY_SUMMARY: A few minutes later another tornado

developed south of Nicollet and lifted north. It was

observed by a local citizen, and caused mainly crops

and tree damage.

.NEW SWEDEN...

Rating: EF-1

Estimated peak wind: 100-105 mph

Path length /Statute/: 3.1 miles

Path width /Maximum/: 75 yards

Fatalities: 0

Injuries: 0

Start date: 08_16_2017

Start time: 535 PM CDT

Start location: 8 S Gaylord, MN

Start Lat/Lon: 44.4380 / -94.1962

End date: 08_16_2017

End time: 547 PM CDT

End location: 6 SSW Gaylord, MN

End_lat/lon: 44.4704 / -94.2461

SURVEY_SUMMARY: The strongest tornado of the day

developed in northern Nicollet county and lifted into

Sibley county. This was a multi-vortex tornado. Video

shows one vortex struck a farmstead directly

causing significant damage to trees and out buildings.

.WINTHROP #1 TORNADO...

Rating: EF-0

Estimated peak wind: 80 mph

Path length /Statute/: 0.25 miles

Path width /Maximum/: 75 yards

Fatalities: 0

Injuries: 0

Start date: 08_16_2017

Start time: 626 PM CDT

Start location: 4 ENE Winthrop, MN

Start Lat/Lon: 44.5719 / -94.3023

End date: 08_16_2017

End time: 626 PM CDT

End location: 4 ENE Winthrop, MN

End_lat/lon: 44.5719 / -94.3023

SURVEY_SUMMARY: Tornado developed 4 miles ENE of Winthrop and

traveled about 1/4 mile to the north northwest. It flattened

some corn, uprooted a tree, and caused other tree damage.

.WINTHROP #2 TORNADO...

Rating: EF-0

Estimated peak wind: 80 mph

Path length /Statute/: 0.16 miles

Path width /Maximum/: 25 yards

Fatalities: 0

Injuries: 0

Start date: 08_16_2017

Start time: 633 PM CDT

Start location: 3 NNE Winthrop, MN

Start Lat/Lon: 44.5795 / -94.3457

End date: 08_16_2017

End time: 633 PM CDT

End location: 3 NNE Winthrop, MN

End_lat/lon: 44.5795 / -94.3457

SURVEY_SUMMARY: A tornado developed 3 NNE of Winthrop, flattened

corn, destroyed a structurally compromised barn and produced some

tree damage.

.NEW PRAGUE TORNADO...

Rating: EF-0

Estimated peak wind: 55-60 mph

Path length /Statute/: 0.5 miles

Path width /Maximum/: 10 yards

Fatalities: 0

Injuries: 0

Start date: 08_16_2017

Start time: 705 PM CDT

Start location: 2 S New Prague, MN

Start Lat/Lon: 44.5359 / -93.5852

End date: 08_16_2017

End time: 708 PM CDT

End location: 2 SW New Prague, MN

End_lat/lon: 44.5435 / -93.5902

SURVEY_SUMMARY: A weak circulation develop south of New

Prague and moved across the far southwest part of town.

There was minor tree damage which matched up with radar.

.LESTER PRAIRIE TORNADO...

Rating: EF-0

Estimated peak wind: 75 mph

Path length /Statute/: Brief

Path width /Maximum/: 30 yards

Fatalities: 0

Injuries: 0

Start date: 08_16_2017

Start time: 808 PM CDT

Start location: Lester Prairie, MN

Start Lat/Lon: 44.8804 / -94.0469

End date: 08_16_2017

End time: 808 PM CDT

End location: Lester Prairie, MN

End_lat/lon: 44.8804 / -94.0469

SURVEY_SUMMARY: A brief EF-0 tornado on the south side of Lester

Prairie. It uprooted some trees and broke many tree limbs.

 

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale Classifies

Tornadoes into the following categories.

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph

EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph

EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph

EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph

EF4...Violent...166 To 200 mph

EF5...Violent...>200 mph

NOTE:

The information in this statement is PRELIMINARY and subject to

change pending final review of the events and publication in

NWS Storm Data.

$$

JRB,WRB,AMK