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FORADA – The tornado that touched down near Forada on Memorial Day, May 30 also went through Nelson. Other tornadoes moved through at least eight other nearby counties in Minnesota, according to new information from the National Weather Service.
The tornado was part of a bowing line of severe thunderstorms that lifted northeast through western Minnesota into central Minnesota during the late afternoon and early evening on May 30, the NWS said.
The following four tornadoes were in the NWS coverage area in the Twin Cities. Meanwhile, other parts of the state were also hit by tornadoes, according to the NWS. A total of 14 tornadoes were confirmed as of June 4.
Here’s what happened, according to the National Weather Service’s office in the Twin Cities, which includes the Douglas County region:
Tornado 1, 3:36 to 4:23 p.m. The first tornado hit about four miles west of Milan and moved north-northeast 50 miles to northwest of Glenwood, causing damage in four counties – Chippewa, Swift, Stevens and Pope.
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The tornado, which had a maximum width of 350 yards, was rated an EF-1 with winds of up to 100 miles per hour.
The National Weather Service said there was a small gap between this tornado and the Forada tornado and more investigation is needed to see if it was a single track.
Tornado 2, 4:25 to 4:48 p.m. The tornado touched down east of Lake Reno near Forada and tracked north-northeast through Douglas County for 19.8 miles, through Nelson and 5 miles east of Carlos.
The tornado was rated an EF-2, packing winds of up to 120 miles per hour with a maximum width of half a mile when it was on the south side of Maple Lake.
Tornado 3, 5 to 5:11 p.m. The tornado spun up 1 mile southwest of Eagle Bend in Todd County and tracked northeast to 5 miles southwest of Staples.
The tornado was rated an EF-1 with maximum winds of 95 mph. It covered a distance of 15.1 miles and had a maximum width of 300 yards.
Tornado 4, 6:12 to 6:28 p.m. The tornado touched down south of the Glencoe Municipal Airfield and tracked north-northeast 6 miles southwest of Montrose, affecting three counties – McLeod, Carver and Wright.
It was rated an EF-1 with 90 mph winds. Its path was 18.2 miles long and had a maximum width of 400 yards.
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The survey process is ongoing and may take a prolonged period of time before tornado data becomes official.
Tornado classifications
The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
EF-0 – weak, 65-85 mph.
EF-1 – moderate, 86-110 mph.
EF-2 – significant, 111-135 mph.
EF-3 – severe, 136-165 mph.
EF-4 – extreme, 166-200 mph.
EF-5 – catastrophic, 200+ mph.
