6/17/10 NOW: ND/SD/MN/IA/NE

[Heidi Farrar]

Dick McGowan et al are just east of Urbank, MN - Dick sent a text 2 minutes ago saying multi-vortex tornado. Dean Baron appeared to be streaming a stovepipe moments ago as well.

Edit: Dave Demko reports tornado from same location.

 

[Jason Bolt]

From LSRs it looks like Mike U. has seen a couple today too. What I thought was interesting is some of the biggest tornado warning polygons I've ever seen are out right now in NW MN. I mean some of the areas included have me scratching my head.

 

[Matthew Crowther]

Not Mike U- he is chasing in northern Kansas. probably Jon Finch.

 

[Jason Bolt]

Not Mike U- he is chasing in northern Kansas. probably Jon Finch.

Thanks. You saw what I saw I guess since you knew why I was saying that.

Still baffled by some of the warning polygons being drawn on these cells.

 

[Justin Turcotte]

I was not happy I was scheduled for the evening shift but was rewarded with a tornado a couple miles to my west and another funnel over the Grand Forks airport. The cell is now north of Grand Forks but another may be on the way.

KGFK 172149Z 25022G48KT 10SM +FC -TSRA BR SCT018CB OVC033 23/21 A2934 RMK TORNADO B47 AO2 PK WND 24048/2146 WSHFT 2135 TSB09RAB09GSB25E29 WALL CLOUD S MOV N FRQ LTGICCC OHD S TS OHD MOV N P0028

 

[Heidi Farrar]

Dick says large cone about to hit Wadena, MN.

 

[Heidi Farrar]

I have heard from Eric Whitehill and Reed that Wadena has been hit. Half-mile wide tornado, substantial damage.

 

[Zach Young]

Thanks. You saw what I saw I guess since you knew why I was saying that.

Still baffled by some of the warning polygons being drawn on these cells.

Seems like at least some of the time they're warning for lines rather than individual cells/circulations.

* AT 506 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORNADOES. THE
TORNADIC STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 13 MILES
EAST OF HIGH LANDING TO 2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LAKE ITASCA...MOVING
TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

I saw some significant damage on Mike Phelps' stream a few minutes ago, but the one house I saw at the time looked like it had sustained heavy cosmetic damage, but not structural. I can't say whether there were other structures in worse shape though.

 

[Mikey Gribble]

storm getting ready to produce on John Wetters stream
http://www.severestudios.com/cgi-bin/player.pl?username=john.wetter&uid=84

 

[Tim Lumb]

Andy Gabrielsons stream looks interesting. I believe he is on the storm just south of John Wetter (might be wrong, it is quite late).

http://www.severestudios.com/cgi-bin/player.pl?username=andy.gabrielson&uid=140

 

[John Lavin]

I think its far more simple to just issue a large polygon when there's an elongated line with embedded supercells as is the case right now. As long as you are including all the areas within and downwind of the threat its fine. Just imagine TV personnel and NOAA radio trying to keep track of 5 smaller polygons, which would all include parts of a county too. Although I think the current large polygon in western MN could be trimmed in the southern portion.

 

[Chris Carter]

Sticking a fork for the in-home Nebraska chase. Been sitting in Bellevue and the few storms north of the Omaha area have just been struggling to go severe.

Im calling it a day.

 

[Derek Weston]

Impressive couplet with history of producing tornadoes -- some large -- just WNW of Albert Lea...

 

[David Yoho]

Live coverage:

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/subindex/video/Live_Video

 

[Penny Lehner]

Reported large tornado was on the ground just a few blocks from downtown Albert Lea.

Also 2 deaths reported in Elmore, MN just south of Wadena.