EF1 Tornado — Hennepin, Minnesota

2011-05-22 · near St Louis Park, Hennepin, Minnesota

Event narrative

A strong EF-1 tornado touched down approximately 3/4 of a mile south-southwest of the intersection of Interstate 394 and Highway 100 in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. It traveled north-northeast through Golden Valley, and across North Minneapolis, before moving into Anoka County.

Damage was widespread along the path and caused damage to businesses near the intersection of Interstate 394, and Highway 100. As it crossed Highway 100, it began to damage numerous residences along Cedar Lake Road before moving into Theodore Wirth Park. The tornado moved across Wirth Park, and into the City of North Minneapolis, between Glenwood Avenue and 16th Avenue.

Most of the damage at this point was EF-0 and was confined to downed trees and roof damage. It strengthened to EF-1 as it moved into North Minneapolis. The tornado tracked across Penn Avenue and Broadway, then to Lowry Avenue and Logan Avenue, then to 42nd Avenue to Lyndale Avenue before crossing the Mississippi River. Damage along this path was extensive to garages, with sheds and roofs removed.

A male was killed as a tree fell on his car while he was driving in North Minneapolis. City officials stated that more than 600 buildings would require major repairs, and 35 homes were so badly damaged they could not be reoccupied.

Wider weather episode

During the early afternoon of Sunday May 22nd, a line of thunderstorms developed across south central Minnesota, and quickly moved north and northeast across east-central Minnesota, and into west-central Wisconsin. One spawned a tornado in North Minneapolis, and crossed into southern Anoka County. Another tornado occurred near Ham Lake, and another near Forest Lake that afternoon.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (44.9597, -93.3472)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 294080. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.