Minnesota Tornado: Widespread damage to homes in Forada amid 'large and extremely dangerous' storm
It’s been a dangerous Memorial Day in Minnesota. A severe weather system began moving across parts of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest on Monday, May 30th afternoon. Now approximately 1 million people are under the Tornado watch. The watch is in effect until 10 pm. The major risks from the storms will be damaging winds with speeds up to 70 mph and hail larger than 2 inches.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported, “This tornado watch is being classified as a Particularly Dangerous Situation. The environment favors strong tornadoes in these areas. Monitor this situation closely,” NWS also gave a heads up that this has a high probability for two or more tornados to come from it. According to them, the tornado was reported on the ground at 4:45 p.m. CDT. Damage was also reported near Alexandria on Maple Lake. Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Kansas could see numerous severe storms into Monday, May 30, night.
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Particularly Dangerous Situation tornado watches are uncommon. It is also uncommon to see "high" probabilities for every hazard, including strong tornadoes. Take this tornado watch seriously. pic.twitter.com/wnf7pQ66HA
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) May 30, 2022
Bill Borghoff, a senior meteorologist at the NWS Twin Cities said, “This is going to be a dangerous evening! Please pay attention to trends this evening." Multiple emergency responders are on the scene as the NWS is keeping a particularly close eye on the area west of the I-35 corridor. As per the weather service, the storms are expected to weaken as they move into west-central Wisconsin.
Storms/showers over southwest MN don't look like much on radar, but are tapping very strong winds just above the surface and producing wind gusts as high as 60 mph. pic.twitter.com/Iav39PS8XN
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) May 31, 2022
According to Julie Anderson, director of Douglas County Emergency Management. She says a suspected tornado damaged as many as 100 structures in Forada. So far no deaths or major injuries have been reported. A separate tornado warning was issued for central Wright County through 7 pm, including Delano, Buffalo, Monticello and Albertville. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says that downed power lines and trees blocked, at one point, all roads leading into the town, which is located roughly 10 miles south of Alexandria. Crews have since deactivated the downed lines and have been working to clear the debris.
According to KSTP Meteorologist Matt Serwe, this line of storms has a “history of producing tornadoes” and could come with “widespread damaging winds.”
New Tornado Warning for parts of McLeod, Carver, and Wright County. If you live inside the red lines, get into your tornado shelter. This storm is also capable of producing ping pong ball size hail.
— Matt Serwe (@SerweWX) May 30, 2022
Live radar: https://t.co/fOthuOAkpc pic.twitter.com/mU3BQNB8WA
Meanwhile, the residents are battling power crises and have taken to social media to share a glimpse of the debris and the damage that has been done by the storms.
🇺🇲EEUU
— Noticias 507 y El Mundo (@agrimensuraferg) May 31, 2022
🌪️Daño de tornado justo al norte de Forada Minnesota hoy. No hay electricidad en esta área. pic.twitter.com/C5BbfS2NBs
#Forada, #Minnesota 🇺🇸🌪
— 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒍𝒂35 (@QuakeChaser35) May 31, 2022
Daños por el paso de un #tornado.
(May 30, 2022)
📹: Kyra Walker.pic.twitter.com/GC6TTtPs1e
URGENT! Douglas County, Minnesota: Multiple reports of damage from severe/tornado-warned storms (confirmed tornadoes) that moved across western Minnesota this afternoon/evening including Forada, entire neighborhoods are destroyed, houses are gone, 6,000 without power. pic.twitter.com/BioByxy7Wx
— 💫Queen of Seventeen 1️⃣7️⃣🥃❤️🇺🇲✝️ (@AreYouAwaQe) May 31, 2022
NEW VIDEO: Heartbreaking footage coming out of #Minnesota tonight as tornadic storms swept across the state.
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) May 31, 2022
Here's a look from #Forada, MN at some of the aftermath left behind. #MNwx #tornado pic.twitter.com/HNBv2L7Ikx