2021 Minneapolis Tornado (Hulkerine)

Tornado over Minneapolis

Date: June 4, 2021

Time: 5:41 PM CDT

Touchdown Location: Waconia, MN

Max rating: EF4

The 2021 Minneapolis Tornado was a low end EF4 tornado that tore through southern Minneapolis on June 4, 2021. This tornado was part of an ongoing outbreak in early June of 2021.

Meteorlogical Sypnosis On June 3 2021 the storm prediction center severe weather Outlook placed a moderate risk for severe weather including powerful straight line winds, large hail and violent tornadoes for Northeastern Iowa and Southwestern Minnesota for June 4. A enhanced risk was placed for surrounding areas. This was due to a frontal system that was expected to move through the area. Strong supercells were expected to impact these areas.

The Tornado

Severe thunderstorms began to move through the area around 2 PM CDT. At 2:15 PM CDT a PDS Tornado watch was issued for southern Minnesota and Iowa due to powerful supercells building up over the Dakotas. These cells spawned a few Tornadoes in parts of Iowa and Western Minnesota in the mid afternoon. At 5:25 PM CDT a tornado warning was issued for Hennepin, Carver, Dakota, and Northern Scott counties. This was due to a confirmed tornado in Waconia moving east at 65 MPH. This tornado was reported to be causing EF2 damage in Waconia and rapidly intensifying. At 5:31 PM CDT the tornado was reported in Minnetonka. The tornado was causing extensive damage and killed 14 people. Sustained winds were measured at 168 MPH. A Tornado Emergency was declared for Minneapolis. The tornado arrived in southern Minneapolis at 5;41 PM CDT. The tornado destroyed many homes and businesses, downed power lines and uprooted trees. An additional 134 deaths and 168 injuries were reported. The tornado arrived at St Paul around 5:49 PM causing even more extensive damage. Golf ball size hail was also reported in the area. The tornado gradually weakened and dissipitated 2 miles east of St Paul at 5:55 PM CDT. The tornado caused 4.1 million dollars in damage and killed a total of 182 people. The tornado received a low end EF4 rating from the national weather service.