Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

At least 4 tornadoes skipped across southern Minnesota Monday evening

Teams still assessing damage; additional tornadoes possible

Radar image south of the Twin Cities on Monday
Radar image south of the Twin Cities on Monday
Paul Huttner | MPR News via RadarScope

Monday evening’s severe storms dropped multiple tornadoes across southern Minnesota. As of this post time, survey teams from the Twin Cities National Weather Service office have found at least four tornado damage tracks.

Here are a few key items from the still-developing survey results:

A nearly stationary front was draped across southern Minnesota on the afternoon of Monday, August 5, 2024.  A very unstable airmass with strong shear was present along and south of the front.  Two supercells initially developed over Nicollet and Watonwan Counties, then strengthened while tracking southeast.  Supercells eventually formed a line of severe thunderstorms, which continued to result in occasional tornadoes and damaging wind gusts across south central MN through 8:30 PM. 

Damage survey crews have examined 4 tornado tracks, but more are possible in the coming days as more information becomes available. 

Tornado No. 1:

St James tornado
St James tornado information
Twin Cities National Weather Service office

Tornado No. 2:

Blue Earth tornado
Blue Earth tornado
Twin Cities National Weather Service office

Tornado No. 3:

Waseca tornado
Waseca tornado information
Twin Cities National Weather Service office

Tornado No. 4:

Twin Lakes tornado
Twin Lakes tornado information
Twin Cities National Weather Service office

Additional details will emerge as survey crews finish their work.