EF2 tornado in Mower County, Minnesota

This EF2 tornado formed southwest of Taopi and quickly intensified and caused significant damage in Taopi. Most buildings were damaged and 10 were destroyed. Cars were tossed, grain bins destroyed, and numerous trees and power lines downed. Two people were injured seeking shelter from the storm when they became trapped under debris. Just outside of Taopi, part of the roof was removed from a farmhouse, several outbuildings were damaged, and several head of cattle were missing.

Two rounds of severe storms moved across southeast Minnesota on April 12th. The first round occurred in the afternoon as storms producing large hail moved across the area. Quarter sized hail fell from north of Racine (Mower County) east to near Winona (Winona County). A second round of severe storms occurred in the evening. An EF2 tornado moved through Taopi (Mower County), where homes were destroyed or severely damaged, grain bins were destroyed, cars were tossed or rolled, and trees and power lines were downed. Two people sustained injuries while sheltering from the storm when they became trapped under debris. An EF1 tornado occurred just southwest of Spring Valley (Fillmore County), damaging several farm outbuildings and trees. Two EF0 tornadoes occurred southwest of Lewiston (Winona County), where the damage was mainly to trees and one farm. The Mower County Board of Commissioners ratified an emergency declaration for Taopi and a state of emergency was declared for Fillmore County.