Minnesota's record tornado outbreak was 10 years ago
48 tornadoes skipped across Minnesota on June 17, 2010
I remember where I was 10 years ago today.
I was on the air at MPR News with Tom Crann broadcasting tornado warnings for Minnesota’s biggest tornado outbreak on record. An incredible 48 tornadoes skipped across Minnesota that day. Here’s more on the outbreak from NOAA.
On June 17, 2010, a significant tornado outbreak occurred across the Northern Plains. Beginning around 2 PM, thunderstorms moved across the region, producing 74 tornadoes. Of those tornadoes, 48 were in Minnesota, eclipsing the single-day tornado record. At the time that it occurred, it went down as the 18th largest tornado outbreak on record in the United States, and the 2nd largest in the summer months of June-August.
Explosively unstable atmosphere
We knew the atmosphere was highly volatile leading up to June 17, 2010. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center painted a moderate severe weather risk zone at 1 a.m. on June 17 right over Minnesota.
As the heat of the day kicked in, thunderstorms exploded ahead of the advancing front.
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Rapid storm initiation
Conditions were ideal for rapid storm development and updraft initiation. The Doppler radar loop shows dozens of discrete super cells exploding.
30 super cells
NOAA reports 30 tornadic super cells tracked across the Upper Midwest that day.
Numerous violent tornadoes
Yes, all tornadoes might be considered violent. But the term is reserved for the strongest (EF-3) and higher twisters. There were 8 tornadoes that rated EF-4 or EF-5.
Damage was extensive in Wadena and other locations around Minnesota. Here’s Freeborn County.
Twin Cities got lucky
The greater Twin Cities area was very lucky that day. Most of the severe weather developed west of the Twin Cities. The nearest tornado was in Wright County. There was an incredible display of Mammatus clouds as the storms rolled into the Twin Cities.
