EF0 tornado in Carlton County, Minnesota

Tornado developed on or near the Aitkin/Carlton County line and traveled southeast towards Highway 210 between Wright and Cromwell. Minor tree damage was noted on West Road near the start of the tornado path, with a broad area of large branches down and a few trees snapped towards the top. The tornado then traveled across a mainly marsh/bog landscape, crossing Center Road where power lines were damaged and widespread tree damage was noted along a 50 yard stretch of road. The tornado track continued on a southeast to east-southeast path, with the last signs of damage near to just south of Highway 210 near Woodbury Lake where a few clusters of tree damage were noted. No injuries or fatalities were reported, and property damage was very limited, with only a handful of homes/buildings impacted.

Numerous severe thunderstorms moved across north-central and northeast Minnesota on the evening of Wednesday, June 12, 2024, producing large hail to the size of baseballs, isolated thunderstorm wind damage, and several tornadoes. Two distinct supercellular storms produced five tornadoes (rated EF-0 and EF-2) across portions of Crow Wing, Aitkin, and Carlton counties between roughly 6:15 PM and 7:30 PM. The supercell that tracked through Crow Wing and Aitkin County produced four separate tornadoes, first on/near Upper Whitefish Lake across to Clamshell Lake, or west of Crosslake, where a wide, sharp path of damage was found. This tornado dissipated, with a second tornado forming south of Wolford, west of Rabbit Lake (north of Crosby). This second tornado appeared to have a mainly continuous path of damage from near Wolford to Rabbit Lake to Cedar Lake to Prescott Lake. There may have been a break in this tornado as it traveled across the Crow Wing State Forest, but a combination of storm chaser and spotter video as well as ground surveys seemed to indicate a mainly consistent path of damage. A third tornado near the northern portion of Hammal Lake and continued east-southeast through Hanging Kettle Lake and Ripple Lake, where it destroyed a three-season cabin and boat house, toppled an 85 foot tall antenna tower, and uprooted and snapped numerous trees. This supercell then later produced a weak, wispy tornado with no known damage near Glen, MN, with the particular length of this tornado unknown due to limited access in this area. While this supercell was

ongoing, a separate supercell briefly produced a weak tornado in northwest Carlton County where mainly minor tree damage (large branches, a few trees snapped) was observed north of Wright, MN. No injuries or fatalities were reported, and NWS Duluth had a Tornado Warning in effect for these storms for the duration of time they produced tornadoes.

Another earlier storm that was the earliest supercell of the severe storm event, initially developed over Koochiching County and into far northern Saint Louis County where it split. The right split headed for Ely, MN, and continued on a southeast path towards Tofte. The supercell was rotating throughout its lifetime, with a report of a funnel cloud when the storm was east of Ely. The storm briefly weakened for a time, then strengthened and produced strong mid-level rotation northeast of Isabella. This storm then produced an EF-1 tornado starting near Tanner Lake to the northeast of Isabella that tracked southeast for just over four miles, creating a swath of numerous uprooted and snapped trees. This tornado rating was determined based on satellite imagery, and NWS Duluth is coordinating to learn more about any air or ground surveyed damage from our partners at the Superior National Forest which may result in a future revision in the tornado rating.

Another isolated storm developed during the late evening hours across north-central Minnesota and move into Itasca County after midnight. This storm produced ping-pong ball sized hail and downed some trees near Wirt.