Severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings issued for Twin Cities metro area

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In the last few weeks, severe storms have spun up tornadoes across Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota, with one twister near Enderlin claiming three lives last month. 

In Minnesota alone, there have been 48 tornado reports so far this season, according to preliminary data from the Storm Prediction Center. That’s already more than the annual average of 43, and the most since 2022 when the state saw 60 tornadoes.

“It’s just weather system after weather system coming through the region, and those weather systems are interacting with a lot of instability, that kind of warm and humid air that helps generate the severe weather,” said Kenny Blumenfeld, senior climatologist with the Minnesota State Climatology Office.

Blumenfeld said he and other forecasters see no sign of a shutoff to this active pattern in the coming weeks. 

“There is, of course, no guarantee that we’re going to get the same pacing of tornadoes and heavy rainfall events,” he said. “But you know, a lot of times in the last few years we’ve had these active patterns, and then somewhere on the horizon, you can see everything just ending.”

Over the last several years, Minnesota has entered a drought stage at the end of the growing season, but that’s not apparent for 2025. 

“It certainly could be just beyond the horizon, but we haven’t really seen any slam-dunk indication from the forecast models that the active pattern is about to end,” Blumenfeld said. 

While climate change is bringing more frequent and intense severe weather to Minnesota, Blumenfeld said we shouldn’t be quick to assume we’re getting more tornadoes.

“On one hand, we know the tornadoes that we’ve had because they hit things. On the other hand, it’s easier to see them,” Blumenfeld said. “Our detection is better than ever, our spotting is better than ever, our verification and validation is better than ever. So sometimes now we're able to count tornadoes that maybe wouldn't have been counted in the past.”

“However you slice it, we’re above average and therefore likely to finish well above average for the season,” Blumenfeld said. 

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An active weather pattern has spun up 48 tornadoes in Minnesota so far this year. Climatologist Kenny Blumenfeld says he sees no indication that the pattern will calm down in the coming weeks.

An active weather pattern has spun up 48 tornadoes in Minnesota so far this year. Climatologist Kenny Blumenfeld says he see no indication that pattern will calm down in the coming weeks.

Minnesota on track for above-average tornado season

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