Storm Events Database
- Data Access
- Search
- Bulk Data Download (CSV)
- Storm Data Publication
- Documentation
- Database Details
- Version History
- Storm Data FAQ
- NOAA's NWS Documentation
- Tornado EF Scale
- External Resources
- NOAA's SPC Reports
- NOAA's SPC WCM Page
- NOAA's NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit
- NOAA's Tsunami Database
- ESRI/FEMA Civil Air Patrol Images
- SHELDUS
- USDA Cause of Loss Data
Storm Events Database
Event Details:
| Event | Tornado |
| -- Scale | EF1 |
| -- Length | 4.66 Miles |
| -- Width | 440 Yards |
| State | MINNESOTA |
| County/Area | RICE |
| WFO | MPX |
| Report Source | NWS Storm Survey |
| NCEI Data Source | CSV |
| Begin Date | 2018-09-20 17:44 CST-6 |
| Begin Location | 3WNW CANNON CITY |
| Begin Lat/Lon | 44.351/-93.2657 |
| End Date | 2018-09-20 17:48 CST-6 |
| End Location | 4SSE DUNDAS |
| End Lat/Lon | 44.3824/-93.1821 |
| Deaths Direct/Indirect | 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...) |
| Injuries Direct/Indirect | 0/0 |
| Property Damage | 0.00K |
| Crop Damage | 0.00K |
| Episode Narrative | A violent outbreak of significant straight line winds, downburst winds, and multiple tornadoes occurred during the afternoon and early evening across southern Minnesota. During the afternoon of Thursday, September 20th, a warm front lifted northward across far southern Minnesota. By the late afternoon, the warm front lied from just south of the Minnesota River, northeast to around the city of Wabasha. Several thunderstorms developed in southwest Minnesota, and northwest Iowa. These storms moved into far southern Minnesota and quickly intensified and raced off to the east-northeast along, and north of this warm front. Damage reports started to come into the office around 4 PM CST in Martin County, with multiple reports of significant damage from south of Mankato, to Waseca, then northeast through Waterville, Morristown, Owatonna, Faribault, Northfield, Cannon Falls, and Red Wing before moving into west central Wisconsin. A long, and several day storm survey indicated at least XX confirmed tornadoes occurred in a widespread area of damaging winds from Martin County, northeast into west central Wisconsin. The most destruction part of the storm occurred around Waterville, Morristown, Owatonna, Faribault and Cannon Falls. These cities all reported homes, buildings and warehouses either damaged or destroyed. Hundreds of large, mature trees were uprooted or snapped along this path of destruction, including numerous trees up to 4 feet in diameter. In addition to the trees, structural damage was widespread including the Faribault airport where 80 planes were either damaged or destroyed as hangers were blown off their foundation. The towns of Waterville and Faribault had the most homes damaged which was associated with EF2 tornado damage. Two miles west of the Faribault airport, a resort area on Roberds Lake had upwords of 75 percent of the trees uprooted or blown down on the east side of the lake. Some of the trees landed on homes and split them in half. |
| Event Narrative | A NWS storm survey, plus drone footage, concluded that an EF1 tornado started approximately 2.4 miles north of the city of Faribault, and tracked northeast for 4.6 miles before lifting just east of the Cannon River Wilderness Area. All of the damage was associated with uprooted or blown down large trees along the Cannon River. The maximum wind speeds were 95 mph and a path width of 440 yards. |
Event Map:
Note: The tornado track is approximate based on the beginning (B) and ending (E) locations. The actual tornado path may differ from a straight line.
All events for this episode:
| Location | County/Zone | St. | Date | Time | T.Z. | Type | Mag | Dth | Inj | PrD | CrD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totals: | 0 | 1 | 1.925M | 0.00K | |||||||
| CEYLON | MARTIN CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 16:38 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 65 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| GRANADA | MARTIN CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 16:52 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 1.500M | 0.00K |
| HUNTLEY | FARIBAULT CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 16:57 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| GARDEN CITY | BLUE EARTH CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 16:58 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| GRANADA | FARIBAULT CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:01 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| RAPIDAN | BLUE EARTH CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:04 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 50.00K | 0.00K |
| MANKATO | BLUE EARTH CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:08 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| EASTON | FARIBAULT CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:10 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 250.00K | 0.00K |
| (MKT)MANKATO MUNI AR | BLUE EARTH CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:17 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| MADISON LAKE | BLUE EARTH CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:18 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| SMITHS MILL | WASECA CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:19 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 1 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| ALMA CITY | WASECA CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:20 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WALDORF | WASECA CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:20 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WASECA MUNI ARPT | WASECA CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:20 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| JANESVILLE | WASECA CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:25 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WATERVILLE | LE SUEUR CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:26 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WASECA | WASECA CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:28 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WATERVILLE | LE SUEUR CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:28 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 83 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WASECA | WASECA CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:30 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| MERIDEN | STEELE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:31 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| MORRISTOWN | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:31 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| MORRISTOWN | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:33 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 83 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WARSAW | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:33 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| MERIDEN | STEELE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:35 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| MORRISTOWN | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:35 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WARSAW | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:35 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WASECA MUNI ARPT | WASECA CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:35 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 53 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| FARIBAULT ARPT | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:37 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| FARIBAULT | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:40 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| FARIBAULT ARPT | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:40 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| FARIBAULT ARPT | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:40 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| CANNON CITY | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:44 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| MOLAND | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:44 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| FARIBAULT ARPT | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:45 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| DUNDAS | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:46 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| CANNON CITY | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:47 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 87 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| DUNDAS | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:48 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| KENYON | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:50 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| NORTHFIELD | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:52 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| DENNISON | RICE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:53 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 91 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| BOMBAY | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:56 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 50.00K | 0.00K |
| DENNISON | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:56 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| DENNISON | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:56 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| STANTON CARLETON ARP | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 17:58 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| CANNON FALLS | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 18:01 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| SOGN | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 18:01 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| CANNON FALLS | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 18:02 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| RANDOLPH | DAKOTA CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 18:02 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| CANNON FALLS | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 18:04 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 15.00K | 0.00K |
| NEW TRIER | DAKOTA CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 18:04 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| CANNON FALLS | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 18:06 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| MIESVILLE | DAKOTA CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 18:09 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 65 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| ZUMBROTA | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 18:09 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 50.00K | 0.00K |
| BELLECHESTER | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 18:13 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WELCH | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 18:13 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WELCH | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 18:16 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| WELCH | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 18:20 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 55 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| FRONTENAC | GOODHUE CO. | MN | 09/20/2018 | 18:30 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 65 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| Totals: | 0 | 1 | 1.925M | 0.00K |
