Four tornado reports from Wednesday’s storms; heavy rain Saturday and again next week

Field survey teams from the Duluth National Weather Service office have posted their findings. They found four tornadoes that caused damage across north-central Minnesota Wednesday.

Here are the tornado reports from the Duluth NWS office:

..Tornado #1 Whitefish Lake/Clamshell Lake...

Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 120 mph

Path Length /statute/: 3.2005 miles

Path Width /maximum/: 700.0 yards

Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/12/2024

Start Time: 06:18 PM CDT Start Location: 4 NE Jenkins / Crow Wing County / MN Start Lat/Lon: 46.6901 / -94.2572 End Date: 06/12/2024

End Time: 06:23 PM CDT End Location: 3 N Breezy Point / Crow Wing County / MN End Lat/Lon: 46.6519 / -94.2204

Survey Summary: Tornado developed over Upper Whitefish Lake (no tornadic damage found or reported on the northwestern shore indicating the tornado touched down on land before crossing the lake) and traveled southeast towards Pelican Lake. Extensive damage to private residences and forest along Old Whiskey Road and Rutger Rd (referred to by locals as “Tip Top Point”) and across Bertha and Clamshell Lake towards the far eastern reach of Whitefish Golf Club’s holes. Damage path was the widest near Old Whiskey and Rutger Road, around 700 yards across, with tree damage even identified on the island to the north of Old Whiskey Road. Over 80% of trees were uprooted or snapped near the base, and numerous homes showed minor to major roof damage. The worst of the roof damage was several homes which had over 50% of the roof deck uplifted and removed. Homeowners also reported a nearly hour-long storm surge of 1 to 2 feet from Upper Whitefish Lake. Minnesota State Patrol helicopter footage shows some scattered tornadic tree damage south of County Road 16 near Clear Lake before no additional damage has been found or reported. No fatalities or injuries reported.

..Tornado #2 - Rabbit Lake to Cedar Lake/Hammal Lake...

Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 115 mph

Path Length /statute/: 13.0833 miles

Path Width /maximum/: 200.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/12/2024

Start Time: 06:45 PM CDT Start Location: 1 W Wolford / Crow Wing County / MN Start Lat/Lon: 46.5473 / -93.9912 End Date: 06/12/2024

End Time: 07:05 PM CDT End Location: 3 SSW Aitkin / Aitkin County / MN End Lat/Lon: 46.4881 / -93.7418

Survey Summary: A tornado redeveloped near Wolford, from the same storm that produced the first tornado near Crosslake. Initial damage located along County Road 30, south of County Highway 11/Mississippi River, mostly trees snapped and uprooted. Tornado continued east- southeast across Rabbit Lake just north of Cuyuna and then towards Highway 210. Damage along the western shore of Rabbit Lake affected private residences with a RV flipped over, roof covering material partially removed, and numerous trees snapped which lead to secondary home damage, including several collapsed out- buildings and garages. The tornado crossed Highway 210 near mile marker 145, as evidenced by both tree damage and storm chaser footage. It then took a southeastward path across portions of western Cedar Lake, producing extensive tree damage and pockets of residential property damage to roofs and garages, including a fish house that was picked up and thrown nearly 100 yards. This is the area of low-end EF-2 damage. The tornado path then became more eastward as it neared the end of its lifecycle, with final damage found on Hammal Lake, where localized pockets of extensive tree damage were located, and one three-season cabin and boat house were completely destroyed and partially thrown into the water. .

Tornado #3 - Glen... Rating:

EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 65 mph

Path Length /statute/: 1.5935000000000001 miles Path Width /maximum/: 20.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/12/2024 Start Time: 07:25 PM CDT

Start Location: 1 SSW Glen / Aitkin County / MN Start Lat/Lon: 46.4001 / -93.5293 End Date: 06/12/2024 End Time: 07:29 PM CDT End Location: 2 SSE Glen / Aitkin County / MN End Lat/Lon: 46.3871 / -93.5016

Survey Summary: A tornado developed near Glen, MN. Storm chaser and spotter video depict a wispy tornado with no debris visible. Due to the rural and forested nature of this damage and no reports of damage, a ground survey has not been completed. This tornado rating and details may be updated in the future as additional aerial imagery becomes available.

..Tornado #4 - Wright/Cromwell... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 80 mph

Path Length /statute/: 7.8067 miles

Path Width /maximum/: 50.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0

Start Date: 06/12/2024 Start Time: 06:42 PM CDT Start Location: 4 NW Wright / Carlton County / MN Start Lat/Lon: 46.7235 / -93.0607 End Date: 06/14/2024

End Time: 06:54 PM CDT End Location: 2 W Cromwell / Carlton County / MN End Lat/Lon: 46.6778 / -92.9159

Survey Summary: Tornado developed on or near the Aitkin/Carlton County line and traveled southeast towards Highway 210 between Wright and Cromwell. Minor tree damage was noted on West Road near the start of the tornado path, with a broad area of large branches down and a few trees snapped towards the top. The tornado then traveled across a mainly marsh/bog landscape, crossing Center Road where power lines were damaged and widespread tree damage was noted along a 50 yard stretch of road. The tornado track continued on a southeast to east-southeast path, with the last signs of damage near to just south of Highway 210 near Woodbury Lake where a few clusters of tree damage were noted. No injuries or fatalities were reported, and property damage was very limited, with only a handful of homes/buildings impacted.

Heavy rainfall potential Saturday

Our next weather system arrives with heavy rainfall potential Saturday. It will begin raining in southwestern Minnesota before dawn Saturday and move into the Twin Cities before noon. There is a marginal risk of severe storms and a risk of flooding rains.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Finite-Volume Cubed-Sphere Dynamical Core model shows clusters of rain and thunder moving across Minnesota between 7 a.m. Saturday and midnight Sunday:

Slowly moving cells will dump local rainfall of 1 to 3 inches across much of southern and central Minnesota.

Steamy Sunday

The season’s first 90-degree air mass arrives Sunday for much of southern Minnesota:

Dew points Sunday could reach 70 degrees across southern Minnesota. heat index values could reach 100 degrees. The steamy weather hangs around through Tuesday.

We’ll see several more rounds of rain and thunderstorms next week. Rainfall totals could be prolific. Forecast models are cranking out at least 3 to 6 inches for much of central Minnesota.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model cranks out as much as 10 inches of rain west of the Twin Cities in the next 10 days:

Stay tuned.