Historic, Unprecedented Storm of December 15-16, 2021 -- Updated Jan 27 --

Tornadoes (in chronological order):

Tornado - Kiester Faribault County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 6:49 PM EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 90 MPH Path Length 2.86 miles Max Width 90 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: This tornado started in Iowa and hit a farmstead in far southern Faribault County southeast of Kiester before dissipating. Track Map

Tornado - Alden 1 Freeborn County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 6:56 PM EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 105 MPH Path Length 3.62 miles Max Width 90 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: First damage observed was a twisted road sign near the tornado origin point. A path of tree and utility pole damage continued to the northeast before ending just south of I-90. Track Map

Tornado - Alden 2 Freeborn County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 7:03 PM EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 100 MPH Path Length 1.64 miles Max Width 40 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: After the dissipation of the tornado south of I-90, a new tornado developed to the east of Alden, damaging trees and a farm outbuilding. It then continued to the northeast, damaging additional trees before dissipating in a field. Track Map

Tornado - Hartland Freeborn County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 7:10 PM EF Rating EF-2 Est. Peak Winds 115 MPH Path Length 2.17 miles Max Width 55 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: A fast-moving tornado touched down to the southwest of Hartland and moved into town damaging numerous buildings, trees, and utility poles. The damage in the southern residential part of town was mainly tree and roof damage. As the tornado tracked into the center of town, more significant damage was observed to buildings along Broadway Street. The most significant damage was to two buildings along Broadway and Johnson in the center of town with significant damage to the walls of low-rise commercial buildings. More tree and roof damage was observed to the northeast with some branches observed along State Highway 13. The tornado dissipated to the northeast in a field with no further damage observed. Track Map

Tornado - Myrtle Freeborn County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 7:10 PM EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 90 MPH Path Length 6.34 miles Max Width 100 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: This tornado hit several farms, including one where seven buildings had enough damage so they were totaled. Several windows of a house were blown out. A machine shed at another farm had several pillars pulled out of the ground. At the end of the tornado, a home had many shingles removed. Track Map

Tornado - London NW Freeborn County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 7:10 PM EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 100 MPH Path Length 4.29 miles Max Width 75 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: The tornado hit one farmstead, knocking down trees and causing some damage to outbuildings. At the next farmstead, it destroyed a machine shed. A nearly full grain bin was dented at the top. The house had part of its roof taken off. Near the end of its path, two irrigation pivots were blown over. It was uncertain whether the tornado moved into Mower County, and so the path was not extended into Mower County. Track Map

Tornado - London SE Worth County IA, Freeborn and Mower Counties MN Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 7:10 PM EF Rating EF-0 Est. Peak Winds 80 MPH Path Length 2.6 miles Max Width 50 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: The tornado spun up in Iowa along 500th Street in Worth County, initially producing some tree damage. As it crossed into Minnesota, it displaced and destroyed an empty silo on State Line Road. It then destroyed a cattle barn and a pole crashed through a car. The tornado continued to produce mostly minor tree damage into southwestern Mower County.. Track Map

Tornado - Glenville Freeborn County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 7:12 PM EF Rating EF-0 Est. Peak Winds 80 MPH Path Length 2.71 miles Max Width 100 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: A brief tornado occurred south of Glenville.  It spun up around 782nd Ave and tracked northeast producing some tree damage until it reached 795th Ave. There, it damaged farm buildings and tossed hay bales across the road. Track Map

Tornado - Hayward/I-90 Freeborn County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 7:14 PM EF Rating EF-0 Est. Peak Winds 80 MPH Path Length 6.77 miles Max Width 100 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: This tornado hit several farmsteads, partially removing the roofs of several outbuildings and a turkey barn. It dented a silo. Trees fell on a number of sheds and vehicles. Track Map

Tornado - East Bixby Steele County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 7:33 PM EF Rating EF-0 Est. Peak Winds 80 MPH Path Length 6.5 miles Max Width 75 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: A narrow path of mostly tree damage was found just to the west of SE 89th Ave. An irrigation system was overturned, some farm outbuildings were damaged, and a small shed was tossed.   Track Map

Tornado - 5 SE Kenyon Goodhue County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 7:49 PM EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 95 MPH Path Length 4.4 miles Max Width 75 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: A tornado spun up south of Kenyon around County 11 Blvd and 50th Ave and continued northeast. It destroyed a few farm buildings and snapped several trees near 480th street. Debris was lofted west across 66th Ave. Track Map

Tornado - 7 SE Kenyon Dodge/Goodhue Counties Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 7:50 PM EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 100 MPH Path Length 4.45 miles Max Width 75 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: A tornado spun up just south of the Goodhue/Dodge County border near 170th Ave and tracked northeast 4.45 miles. It snapped pine trees, destroyed the top half of a barn, and lofted debris westward into a field.  It ended around 100th Ave south of County 54 Blvd.   Track Map

Tornado - between Augusta & Fairchild Eau Claire County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 8:58 PM EF Rating EF-0 Est. Peak Winds 85 MPH Path Length 6.17 miles Max Width 75 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: Mainly tree damage. Some trees fell on sheds, houses and vehicles. Two sheds had their roofs partially removed. Time estimated from radar. Track Map

Tornado - East side of Lake Wissota Chippewa County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 9:02 PM EF Rating EF-0 Est. Peak Winds 85 MPH Path Length 5.5 miles Max Width 75 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: This tornado uprooted or broke hundreds of trees, many of which landed on houses. Shingles were also removed from portions of two roofs. Soffits were torn away from three houses. Time estimated from radar. Track Map

Tornado - Stanley, WI Chippewa and Clark Counties Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 9:16 PM EF Rating EF-2 Est. Peak Winds 120 MPH Path Length 7.44 miles Max Width 50 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: This tornado first caused damage to groves of trees southwest of Stanley, then affected a couple farmsteads. It intensified significantly as it approached Stanley, demolishing an outbuilding and then two outbuildings with a construction business. An historic train depot had a portion of its roof removed. A high tension power line was blown down. About six homes had their roofs removed, and in the northeast edge of Stanley, a roof and outer walls were removed from a portion of a house. The tornado continued into northwestern Clark County where it damaged more trees and outbuildings. This tornado appears to have been the farthest north December tornado in U.S. history that was east of the Rockies. Track Map

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

Snow/Ice

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
341 PM CST Thu Dec 16 2021

...SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM DECEMBER 15-16...

Location                     Amount    Time/Date       Provider             
Farwell 5N                   3.5 in    0830 AM 12/16   COCORAHS             
Donnelly 2WNW                2.4 in    0700 AM 12/16   COCORAHS             
Prinsburg 0.1 WNW            2.1 in    0600 AM 12/16   COCORAHS             
Long Prairie 2.1 NNE         2.0 in    0800 AM 12/16   COCORAHS             
Belview 0.3 S                1.7 in    0700 AM 12/16   COCORAHS             
Holdingford 6.0 NW           1.5 in    0800 AM 12/16   COCORAHS             
1.0 NE Watson                1.5 in    0830 AM 12/16   COOP                 
Saint Joseph 2.5 N           1.4 in    0700 AM 12/16   COCORAHS             
Alexandria                   1.4 in    0830 AM 12/16   COOP                 
Belgrade 8.0 ESE             1.3 in    0700 AM 12/16   COCORAHS             
Camp Ripley 4E               1.3 in    0700 AM 12/16   COCORAHS             
Hillman 8.3 N                1.3 in    0800 AM 12/16   COCORAHS             
Long Prairie                 1.2 in    0600 AM 12/16   COOP                 
Danube 2WNW                  1.2 in    0700 AM 12/16   COCORAHS             
Litchfield                   1.1 in    0800 AM 12/16   COOP                 
Saint Cloud 7.6 SW           1.1 in    1000 AM 12/16   COCORAHS             
Bird Island 7SSE             1.0 in    0700 AM 12/16   COOP                 
Dawson                       1.0 in    0700 AM 12/16   COOP                 
Melrose                      1.0 in    0700 AM 12/16   COOP                 
Little Falls 1.2 SW          1.0 in    0700 AM 12/16   COCORAHS             
Bird Island 7SSE             1.0 in    0700 AM 12/16   COCORAHS             
Belgrade 0.4 WNW             1.0 in    0900 AM 12/16   COCORAHS 

Peak Wind Speeds

...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS DECEMBER 15-16...

Some reports are from thunderstorms, but most are from non-thunderstorm
winds overnight.

Location                     Speed     Time/Date       Provider
Redwood Falls AP             78 MPH    1130 PM 12/15   ASOS
Fairmont AP                  70 MPH    1019 PM 12/15   AWOS
Eau Claire AP                67 MPH    0900 PM 12/15   ASOS
Ellendale 5NNE               65 MPH    1050 PM 12/15   MNDOT
Eden Prairie AP              63 MPH    0211 AM 12/16   ASOS
Cannon Falls 7SSE            63 MPH    0105 AM 12/16   MNDOT
St. James AP                 62 MPH    1155 PM 12/15   AWOS
Mankato AP                   62 MPH    1107 PM 12/15   AWOS
Owatonna AP                  62 MPH    1053 PM 12/15   AWOS
Twin Lakes 5SE               62 MPH    1110 PM 12/15   MNDOT
Minneapolis-St. Paul AP      61 MPH    0317 AM 12/16   ASOS
Red Wing 4W                  61 MPH    1235 AM 12/16   MNDOT
Waseca AP                    60 MPH    1135 PM 12/15   AWOS
Olivia AP                    60 MPH    1255 AM 12/16   AWOS
New Ulm AP                   60 MPH    1135 PM 12/15   AWOS
Waseca 1SSE                  60 MPH    1130 PM 12/15   MNDOT
Red Wing                     59 MPH    0206 AM 12/16   CWOP
Hanska                       59 MPH    0700 PM 12/15   CWOP
Lydia                        59 MPH    0116 AM 12/16   CWOP
Eau Claire                   59 MPH    0108 AM 12/16   CWOP
Hutchinson AP                59 MPH    1155 PM 12/15   AWOS
New Germany 1NW              59 MPH    1220 AM 12/16   MNDOT
Ganoe Hill                   59 MPH    0107 AM 12/16   RAWS
Hope                         58 MPH    1109 PM 12/15   CWOP
Stanton AP                   58 MPH    1115 PM 12/15   AWOS
Madelia 3ENE                 58 MPH    1150 PM 12/15   MNDOT
Minnesota Lake               57 MPH    1045 PM 12/15   CWOP
Silver Lake 3E               57 MPH    1206 AM 12/16   MNDOT
Clara City 2WSW              57 MPH    1110 PM 12/15   MNDOT
Winthrop 2W                  57 MPH    1140 PM 12/15   MNDOT
Mankato US-169 Mile Post 52  57 MPH    0100 AM 12/16   MNDOT
Easton                       56 MPH    1046 PM 12/15   CWOP
Albert Lea AP                56 MPH    1055 PM 12/15   AWOS
Willmar AP                   56 MPH    1215 AM 12/16   AWOS
Crystal AP                   56 MPH    0436 AM 12/16   ASOS
St. Paul Dwtn AP             56 MPH    0200 AM 12/16   ASOS
Litchfield 3S                56 MPH    0211 AM 12/16   RAWS
Glencoe AP                   55 MPH    1215 AM 12/16   AWOS

Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers
for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.

Photos & Video

Storm Damage

Damage in Hartland, MN Source: Bill Keller-Fox 9	Damage in Hartland, MN Source: NWS Damage Survey	Tornado Damage in Stanley, WI Source: Alyssa Lyons-WQOW TV	Tornado Damage in Stanley, WI Source: Alyssa Lyons-WQOW TV

Storm Damage

Tornado Damage NW of London, MN	Tornado Damage N of Myrtle, MN	Tornado Damage W of Fairchild, WI	Tornado Damage S of Stanley, WI

Storm Damage

Caption (source)	Caption (source)	Caption (source)	Caption (source)

Snow/Fog

Dense Fog On Bde Maka Ska Source: Patrick Mustain	Caption (source)	Caption (source)	Caption (source)

Radar

Radar Loop From 3 PM - 12 AM December 15	Radar Loop From 12 AM - 12 PM December 16

Storm Reports

Link to storm reports from December 15, 2021: https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/211215_rpts.html

Environment

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Surface Map Loop	Mixed Layer CAPE	0-3 km Bulk Shear

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Effective Storm Relative Helicity	0-500 m Storm Relative Helicity	0-1 km Energy Helicity Index

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Significant Tornado Parameter	Conditional Probability of a Significant Tornado	SHERBE (High Shear/Low Instability Parameter)

Additional Information

Loop of Observed Wind Gusts (12 PM December 15 - 12 PM December 16)	Loop of Observed Temperatures (6 AM December 15 - 6 AM December 16)	Loop of Observed Visibility (12 AM December 15 - 12 AM December 16)

High Temperatures From December 15

Summaries from other NWS Offices

- NWS LaCrosse Summary

- NWS Des Moines Summary

- NWS Sioux Falls Summary