Glenville-Austin, MN Tornado of May 1, 2001

Glenville/Austin MN tornado - F2/F1

Picture of the tornado track.
Picture of the tornado when near Glenville.

Three tornadoes hit parts of Freeborn and Mower Counties in southern Minnesota on Tuesday, May 1, 2001.

The tornado that hit Glenville, MN actually dissipated while still in Freeborn County. A second tornado formed around 7:15 pm about 8 miles southwest of Austin, MN, hitting several farms as it tracked northeast. Several hog farms were destoyed. This tornado crossed Interstate 90 between mile markers 173 and 174 west of Austin, tracked just southeast of Oakland, MN and continued toward the community of Lansing, MN before lifting about 4 miles north of Austin.

The tornado hit numerous farms, outbuildings, power poles, and crossed fields that were still bare of crops. Hardest hit were several homes in the small community of Andyville north of Austin, just off of Highway 218. Roofs were torn off and trees sheared off, with estimated F-2 damage on the Fujita Scale. This second tornado dissipated around 7:37pm. Peak width was approx. 250 yards.

A small tornado also touched down between Rose Creek and Elkton, MN around 7:52pm and will be rated an F0.

A hog farm in eastern Freeborn county.	Trees sheared off near a farm southwest of Oakland, MN.	Grain Bin damage along county road 34 in eastern Freeborn county.
Outbuildings demolished where 800 pigs survived.	Garage roof torn off.	Home damage north of Austin, in the Andyville vicinity.