Storm Events Database

Event Details

Event Tornado
-- Scale EF0
-- Length 3.74
-- Width 100
State MINNESOTA
County/Area LE SUEUR
WFO MPX
Begin Date 03/19/2012 17:29:00 CST-6
Begin Range 0
Begin Azimuth SW
Begin Location ELYSIAN
Begin Lat/Lon 44.2/-93.68
End Date 03/19/2012 17:35:00 CST-6
End Range 4
End Azimuth N
End Location ELYSIAN
End Lat/Lon 44.25/-93.69
Deaths Direct/Indirect 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...)
Injuries Direct/Indirect 0/0
Property Damage 250.00K
Crop Damage 0.00K
Episode Narrative A line of strong thunderstorms moved rapidly northward across southern Minnesota during the late afternoon and early evening hours of Monday, March 19th. Some of the storms became severe near Albert Lea, and Elysian, or east of Mankato, Minnesota. One of the storms produced an EF0 tornado near Elysian, which traveled approximately 6.5 miles to the north before lifting. Most of the damage was associated downed trees and roof damage. As the storms moved north, some of the stronger storms produced wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph across the western Twin Cities Metro, with minor damage reported in Carver.
Event Narrative The EF-0 tornado that formed in northern Waseca County continued to move northward across the western sections of Elysian in Le Sueur County, where two small empty grain bins were blown into a field. Also, a small metal shed was blown across Highway 60 in the same area.

As the tornado continued to track north of Lake Francis, the damage pattern became more complex, and some damage signatures were associated with downburst winds. However, the damage pattern was such that it impossible to discern between the tornado damage and any downburst damage. Therefore there is no separate entry for thunderstorm wind damage at this point.

The path length of the tornado in Le Sueur County was approximately 3.7 miles, which ended at the St. Peters Church two miles north of Lake Francis. Although most of the damage was associated with uprooted trees and roof damage to homes, numerous boat docks and lifts along the northern shore of Lake Francis were picked up and tossed into the adjacent properties.

Based on damage, winds were estimated at 80 mph, and the total path length across Waseca and Le Sueur Counties was 6.54 miles.


All events for this episode:

Location County/Zone St. Date Time T.Z. Type Mag Dth Inj PrD CrD
Totals: 0 0 407.00K 0.00K
EAGLE BEND TODD CO. MN 03/19/2012 17:02 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 2.00K 0.00K
(AEL)ALBERT LEA ARPT FREEBORN CO. MN 03/19/2012 17:08 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 52 kts. EG 0 0 5.00K 0.00K
JANESVILLE WASECA CO. MN 03/19/2012 17:25 CST-6 Tornado EF0 0 0 100.00K 0.00K
ELYSIAN LE SUEUR CO. MN 03/19/2012 17:29 CST-6 Tornado EF0 0 0 250.00K 0.00K
CARVER CARVER CO. MN 03/19/2012 18:05 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 52 kts. EG 0 0 25.00K 0.00K
DUNDAS RICE CO. MN 03/19/2012 18:07 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 56 kts. EG 0 0 15.00K 0.00K
NORTHFIELD RICE CO. MN 03/19/2012 18:12 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 52 kts. EG 0 0 10.00K 0.00K
COON RAPIDS ANOKA CO. MN 03/19/2012 18:48 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 52 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
NOWTHEN ANOKA CO. MN 03/19/2012 18:50 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 52 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
Totals: 0 0 407.00K 0.00K