May 15, 2025 Storm

Kanabec County, Minnesota

The Storm Prediction Center issued an enhanced risk of severe storms for parts of the Great Lakes region into eastern Minnesota. The risk included a 10% tornado contour, and the possibility for tornadoes of EF-2 or greater intensity.

I was at work, so I was not free to chase this event. I did have an upcoming chase tour, and I needed to get down to the Twin Cities and work a day in the office before I went on tour, so I was able to get on the road and drive into the risk area. Given that I left at the end of the work day, I was a bit too late to get into the area with the greatest severe weather threats when the storms were occurring, but I did get to see a storm.

SPC 1630 UTC outlook with severe reports.

SPC 1630 UTC tornado outlook with reports.

In the afternoon, a line of storms developed south of the Twin Cities and moved north. Individually, these storms all showed supercell structures on radar. I became concerned that there could be a tornado event in the Twin Cities. However, these storms did not become tornado producers. There were tornadoes in west-central Minnesota on west-central Wisconsin but not between these two areas. The Twin Cities dodged a bullet, I guess.

A line of storms develops south of the Twin Cities.

The storms become severe-warned and develop supercellular characteristics.

The severe warnings were upgraded to tornado warnings along parts of the line, but no tornadoes occurred.

As the cells got into the northern Twin Cities, it was time for me to begin my travel southward. One of the storms maintained some of its intensity and stayed discrete until I got to it. It was no longer warned, but there was some weak rotation with it. As I passed by, I took a cell phone picture of it. I didn't chase this storm, so my chase miles were essentially zero. I got to the Twin Cities and watched the news to see the reports of a tornado near Hammond, WI.

As the cells got farther north, one moved up Highway 65, which I often take to get to the Twin Cities.

As the cells got farther north, one moved up Highway 65, which I often take to get to the Twin Cities.

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