A line of severe thunderstorms moved through southern Minnesota into west central Wisconsin during Thursday. There were several tornadoes reported, producing extensive damage across multiple counties. So far, 10 tornadoes have been confirmed. The largest near Lake Elysian and Waterville was given a strength of EF-2 with wind speeds up to 135 mph.
Here's what we know as of Friday evening: 5 tornadoes. Two EF-1 and one EF-2. Still a lot of data and analysis to come in over the weekend. Stay tuned for updates.#kare11weather pic.twitter.com/BfCdrq2TRT
— Laura Betker (@LauraBetker) September 22, 2018
We're getting new images of storm damage Thursday evening across Minnesota, this from Abby Mynor in Fairbault #MNwx @NWSTwinCities pic.twitter.com/oHEiebZdqR
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) September 21, 2018
WATCH LIVE: Aerials of the storm damage from southeastern Minnesota. https://t.co/V5xRzTYurm pic.twitter.com/xkGy8dH5Qh
— KARE 11 (@kare11) September 21, 2018
A warm front in Iowa quickly surged north during the late afternoon as a strengthening low pressure system moved northeast from Nebraska toward southern Minnesota. A broken line of strong to severe storms developed from the low pressure system southward ahead of the attendant cold front. These storms raced northeast at up to 70 mph, and moved through the region around 4:30 to 8 p.m.
[MPX Radar loop from 5:31 p.m. to 7:49 p.m. CDT on Thursday, 9/20. From NWS Chanhassen]
Here's a movie of 1-minute GOES-East visible/infrared sandwich imagery from 501 PM to 700 PM yesterday 9/20/2018, covering the time period of some of the most significant severe storms. #mnwx pic.twitter.com/vIM11OinA0
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) September 21, 2018
Strong wind gusts were also reported across the region, with speeds as high as 70 mph in Mankato.
Highest wind gusts during the past 24 hours. A 70 MPH gust was reported at the Mankato Airport last evening, and a 63 MPH gust was reported near Red Wing. #mnwx #wiwx pic.twitter.com/nllfQyTP0a
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) September 21, 2018
Here is a map of all of the warnings we issued yesterday (yellow=severe, red=tornado, green=flash flood), along with damage reports received. Worst damage received happened in a corridor from roughly Mankato to Red Wing. #mnwx #wiwx pic.twitter.com/79L0wtHu7D
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) September 21, 2018
National Weather Service storm surveys will continue on Saturday and we will provide more information to you once it becomes available.
Information from NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen
For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Mace Michaels