Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Storm reports: Tornadoes and heavy rainfall Tuesday

4 tornadoes, 2-4 inches of rain in parts of Minnesota this week

Rainfall totals
Rainfall totals
Twin Cities National Weather Service office

Our storm this week delivered on the threats of high winds and heavy rainfall.

Four tornadoes have been reported in Minnesota this week, so far. That’s getting off lucky compared to Iowa, which saw 18 tornado reports Tuesday with devastation in some areas.

A swath of heavy rainfall produced 2 to 4 inches across parts of southern Minnesota, including the greater Twin Cities area.

Here are some select storm reports from this week:

  • [Delayed Report] 5 NE Blooming Prairie [Dodge Co, MN] Public reports Tornado at 20 May, 6:18 PM CDT -- Brief non-supercell tornado reported by spotters and the public.

  • [Delayed Report] 5 WNW Hayfield [Dodge Co, MN] Public reports Tornado at 20 May, 6:25 PM CDT -- Brief non-supercell tornado reported by spotters and the public.

  • 1 SSW Fairmont [Martin Co, MN] Public reports Tornado at 21 May, 3:00 PM CDT -- LATE LSR - Social media photo received of potential tornado crossing Hall Lake, just south of Fairmont. Time estimated via radar.

A tornado was also confirmed in Winona County Tuesday evening. Here are the details in the storm survey from the La Crosse, Wis., National Weather Service office:

Public Information Statement National Weather Service La Crosse WI

1159 AM CDT Wed May 22 2024

...NWS Damage Survey for 05/21/2024 Severe Weather Event...

...EF1 Tornado Confirmed in Winona County...

Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 105 mph

Path Length /statute/: 18.28 miles

Path Width /maximum/: 50 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date:

05/21/2024 Start Time: 06:01 PM CDT Start Location: 2 ENE St. Charles / Winona County / MN Start Lat/Lon: 43.9761 / -92.0135 End Date: 05/21/2024 End Time: 06:15 PM CDT End Location: 2 ENE Whitman / Buffalo County / WI End Lat/Lon: 44.1631 / -91.7551 Survey

Summary: The tornado began just east-northeast of St. Charles with pockets of tree and farm building damage as it progressed northeast. It intensified to EF1 strength and passed by the west side of Rollingstone, where it destroyed a couple farm buildings. Some tree damage tied to storm inflow was noted within Rollingstone. The tornado eventually weakened as it crossed the Mississippi River and dissipated in Merrick State Park in Buffalo County, Wisconsin.

A swath of heavy rain covered much of Minnesota including the Twin Cities area.

precip
Rainfall over the past 24 hours
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Pivotal Weather

Here are some 48-hour rainfall reports from Monday and Tuesday:

  • Farmington, 4 inches

  • Northfield, 3.82 inches

  • New Brighton, 3.45 inches

  • Golden Valley, 3.27 inches

  • Apple Valley, 3.16 inches

  • Minneapolis, 3.22 inches

  • St. Paul, 2.6 inches

A quieter weather pattern moves in through Thursday. Highs Thursday will reach the 70s to near 80 degrees south with mainly 60s north.

Forecast high temperatures Thursday
Forecast high temperatures Thursday
NOAA