July 17, 2019, Tornado Outbreak in Northeastern Minnesota

Tornadoes

Tornado - Voyageurs National Park Locator Lake to Marion Bay (Rainy Lake) St Louis County, MN Date 7/17/2019 Time (Local) 7:49pm - 8:06pm CDT EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 100 mph Path Length 3.5 miles Max Width 600 yards Injuries/Deaths None Summary: A damage survey of a tornado within Voyageurs National Park has been completed and confirmed a tornado from approximately Locator Lake, approximately 7.3 miles north of Kabetogama, to Marion Bay on Rainy Lake, approximately 9.5 miles west-northwest of Kabetogama. The tornado likely extended farther northeast across Rainy Lake and possibly into Canada, so the length of this tornado should be considered an estimate. The end point location is estimated from video of the tornado moving over Rainy Lake. This survey was completed using photos and videos from Voyageurs National Park, the public, and business owners in the region. Very special thanks to Voyageurs National Park for sharing aerial images of the damage path which was critical to assessing the path, width, and severity of this tornado. Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

Damage to trees at the Marion West houseboat site on Rainy River within Voyageurs National Park (Credit: National Park Service) Aerial photo of damage path looking southwest from Marion Bay over Rainy Lake. (Credit: National Park Service) Aerial photo of the damage path at its widest, estimated to be around 600 yards. (Credit: National Park Service) A wider aerial photo of the damage path, looking east-northeast towards Marion Bay. (Credit: National Park Service)

Tornado - Gheen Hill, MN St. Louis County, MN Date 7/17/2019 Time (Local) 8:01 PM - 8:16 PM CDT EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 90-95 mph Path Length 5.75 mi Max Width 420 yards Injuries/Deaths None Summary: The supercell which produced the Gheen Hill tornado began north of Togo in far southeast Koochiching County. It traveled toward the east-northeast and gradually organized. Sporadic straight-line wind damage was observed a few miles northwest of Gheen and west of US Highway 53. The tornado developed 1 mile west of US-53 and tracked toward the east-northeast. We received several photographs from a spotter who observed the tornado north of Gheen Hill before it crossed US-53. The tornado crossed Rice Lake and strengthened to low-end EF-1 intensity shortly after. The tornado continued east-northeastward across the easternmost portion of Johnson Road. It weakened and dissipated just to the east of an ATV trail northwest of Gheen. Aside from the few spotter photos of this tornado, high-resolution satellite imagery was critical to assessing the location, path, width, and peak intensity of this tornado. We are very grateful to the spotter who provided the only known photos of this tornado. Additional help in identifying this tornado's path was provided by a private sector meteorologist from Grand Rapids, MN. This supercell thunderstorm would go on to produce the Carlson Lake tornado. Track Map   Downloadable KMZ File

Looking northeast from 3 miles south of Orr. (Credit: Ericka Iverson) Photo taken near Gheen Hill looking north Photo taken on Gheen Hill looking north (Credit: Melissa Abts) Video - Gheen Hill Tornado (Bob Conzemius video)

Waterspout - Pelican Lake, MN St. Louis County, MN Date 7/17/2019 Time (Local) 8:11 PM - 8:13 PM CDT EF Rating EF-U Est. Peak Winds Unknown Path Length Unknown Max Width Unknown Injuries/Deaths None Summary: Coming Soon   Track Map

Video - Waterspout over Pelican Lake (Orr, MN)

Tornado - Carlson Lake, MN St. Louis County, MN Date 7/17/2019 Time (Local) 8:23 PM - 8:37 PM CDT EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 100-105 mph Path Length 5.8 mi Max Width 500 yards Injuries/Deaths None Summary: The supercell which produced the Gheen Hill tornado continued to move toward the east-northeast and a second mesocyclone developed a short time after the Gheen Hill tornado dissipated. The Carlson Lake tornado developed approximately 500 yards west of the Elbow River and six-tenths of a mile north of the western end of Ban Lake. The tornado tracked toward the northeast producing sporadic EF-0 damage to trees. The tornado turned due east approximately one mile west of Carlson Lake and intensified. The tornado produceda swath of EF-1 damage, which was a maximum of 300 yards wide and passed over Carlson Lake. Tree damage corresponding to high-end EF-1 wind speeds was noted over much of this area. The tornado turned toward the northeast after crossing Carlson Lake and crossed over Elbow Lake Forest Road before gradually weakening. The tornado dissipated shortly after crossing Shuster Road. We are very grateful for the help identifying this tornado's path provided by a private sector meteorologist in Grand Rapids, MN. High-resolution satellite imagery was critical to assessing the location, path, width, and peak intensity of this tornado. Track Map   Downloadable KMZ File

Photo taken just east of Orr at 8:32 PM CDT on Highway 23 near Autio Road facing west. (Credit: Steven Washburn) Carlson Lake tornado viewed from 3 south of Orr looking east-northeast. (Credit: Ericka Iverson) Damage along Shuster Rd (south of Orr Buyck Rd, east of Orr, MN) (Credit:  Minnesota Climatology Working Group) Damage along Shuster Rd (south of Orr Buyck Rd, east of Orr, MN) (Credit:  Minnesota Climatology Working Group) Damage near Shuster Rd (south of Orr Buyck Rd, east of Orr, MN) Radar 4 panel with Reflectivity, Storm-Relative Velocity, NROT and CC (clockwise from upper left)

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Additional Photos:

A set of wooden bleachers were tossed over at the fairgrounds just west of Littlefork, MN. (Straight-line wind damage.) (NWS Photo)	A set of wooden bleachers were tossed over at the fairgrounds just west of Littlefork, MN. (Straight-line wind damage.) (NWS Photo)	Wall Cloud 6 miles east of Wirt (Credit: Melanie Jo Simonson-Greniger
Wall cloud in Effie (Credit: Travis Lovdahl)	Wall cloud near Effie (Credit: Travis Lovdahl)	Outhouse blown over at the North Star Rodeo grounds north of Effie. Another outhouse next to this one was destroyed by straight-line winds. (NWS Photo)

Radar

Reflectivity Loop During Time of Tornados	Storm-Relative Velocity Loop During Time of Tornados	Total Rainfall, MRMS Hail Estimates, and Rotation Tracks	MRMS Rotation Tracks

Storm Reports

View storm reports on interactive map

159
NWUS53 KDLH 180352
LSRDLH

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1052 PM CDT WED JUL 17 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0948 PM     HAIL             7 WSW HOVLAND           47.82N 90.11W 
07/17/2019  M0.25 INCH       COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0830 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     4 NE ORR                48.10N 92.75W
07/17/2019                   ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            FUNNEL CLOUD SPOTTED LOOKING NORTHEAST FROM
            BETWEEN ORR AND GHEEN. 

0830 PM     FLOOD            1 N INTERNATIONAL FALLS  48.60N 93.40W 
07/17/2019                   KOOCHICHING        MN    PUBLIC 
           
            PICTURE OF FLOODWATER COVERING US HIGHWAY 53
            IN INTERNATIONAL FALLS RECEIVED VIA SOCIAL 
            MEDIA. APPEARS TO BE ABOUT 3 INCHES OF WATER 
            COVERING THE ROADWAY. 

0812 PM     WATER SPOUT      2 SW CUSSON             48.08N 92.87W
07/17/2019                   ST. LOUIS          MN   PUBLIC           

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS WATER SPOUT REPORT FROM 2
            SW CUSSON. WATERSPOUT VIDEO FROM PELICAN
            LAKE RESORT. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. 

0810 PM     TORNADO          3 NNW GHEEN             48.01N 92.83W
07/17/2019                   ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            SMALL DEBRIS LOFTED BY TORNADO WITH FUNNEL
            SEEN. TORNADO HEADED EAST TOWARDS ELBOW
            LAKE. 

0807 PM     TORNADO          2 NW GHEEN              47.99N 92.83W
07/17/2019                   ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            A TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED A STORM WITH
            HEAVY ROTATION AND A TORNADO ON THE GROUND
            JUST SOUTH OF ORR, NEAR US HIGHWAY 53. 

0806 PM     TORNADO          10 NNE KABETOGAMA       48.56N 92.93W
07/17/2019                   ST. LOUIS          MN   PUBLIC           

            TORNADO REPORTED WITH TREES DOWN NEAR
            HOUSEBOATS ON SAGINAW BAY AND MARION BAY.
            TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. 

0805 PM     TSTM WND DMG    7 N KABETOGAMA          48.54N 93.01W 
07/17/2019                   ST. LOUIS          MN   PARK/FOREST SRVC 
            
            VOYAGEURS NP REPORTS MANY TREES DOWN OVER 
            THE LOCATOR LAKE TRAIL. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0805 PM     TSTM WND DMG     10 NNE KABETOGAMA       48.57N 92.92W 
07/17/2019                   ST. LOUIS          MN   PARK/FOREST SRVC 

            VOYAGEURS NP REPORTS MANY TREES DOWN AT 
            HOUSEBOAT SITE ON DUCKFOOT ISLAND. 

0803 PM     HAIL             ISLAND VIEW             48.60N 93.19W
07/17/2019  M0.25 INCH       KOOCHICHING        MN   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. 

0745 PM     TSTM WND DMG     6 W GREANEY             47.96N 93.15W
07/17/2019                   KOOCHICHING        MN   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            5 PINE AND POPPLE TREES THAT WERE ABOUT 2
            FEET IN DIAMETER KNOCKED DOWN DUE TO
            STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. 

0659 PM     HAIL             LITTLEFORK              48.40N 93.56W
07/17/2019  E0.75 INCH       KOOCHICHING        MN   PUBLIC           

            TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. 

0649 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WNW LITTLEFORK        48.40N 93.57W
07/17/2019                   KOOCHICHING        MN   PUBLIC           

            BLEACHERS DAMAGED AT FAIRGROUNDS IN
            LITTLEFORK. TREE DOWN ON A POWERLINE IN
            LITTLEFORK. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. 

0627 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 N EFFIE               47.87N 93.64W
7/17/2019   E60 MPH          ITASCA             MN   NWS STORM SURVEY

            TWO LARGE WOODEN OUTHOUSES WERE BLOWN
            OVER BY THE WINDS AT THE NORTH STAR
            RODEO GROUNDS NORTH OF EFFIE. ONE OF
            THE OUTHOUSES WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED
            WHILE THE OTHER REMAINED INTACT.

0620 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 E BIRCHDALE           48.63N 94.07W
07/17/2019  M70 MPH          KOOCHICHING        MN   MESONET          

            MNDOT ROAD WEATHER STATION STATION MN026
            BRICHDALE MN-11 MILE POST 157. 

0600 PM     TORNADO          3 N WIRT                47.77N 93.95W
07/17/2019                   ITASCA             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD THAT
            TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY ON COUNTY ROAD 14 NEAR
            COUNTY ROAD 31 HEADING EAST TOWARDS BIGFORK.
            LOCATION ESTIMATED BY RADAR. 

0534 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     3 S NORTHOME            47.83N 94.27W
07/17/2019                   ITASCA             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            SEVERAL FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTS RELAYED VIA LAW
            ENFORCEMENT. TIME AND LOCATION ESTIMATED BY
            RADAR. 

         

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Environment

Figure 1: 00Z (7 PM CDT) 250 hPa SPC analysis	Figure 2: 00Z (7 PM CDT) 500 hPa SPC analysis	Figure 3: 00Z (7 PM CDT) 850 hPa SPC Mesoanalysis

Figure 4: WPC 21Z (4 PM CDT) Surface Analysis	Figure 5: 00Z (7 PM CDT) Surface Based CAPE from SPC Mesoanalysis	Figure 6: 00Z (7 PM CDT) 0-6 km Bulk Shear from SPC Mesoanalysis

Figure 7: 00Z (7 PM CDT) 0-1 km Bulk Shear from SPC Mesoanalysis	Figure 8: 00Z (7 PM CDT) Lifted Condensation Level (LCL) heights from SPC Mesoanalysis	Figure 9: 00Z (7 PM CDT) Significant Tornado Parameter from SPC Mesoanalysis

	Figure 10: 00Z (7 PM CDT) International Falls Sounding