EF1 tornado in Itasca County, Minnesota

The tornado developed in a wooded area and bog in far northern Aitkin County, about 1.25 miles north-northeast of the intersection of Highways 65 and 200. The tornado tracked northeast and continued into Itasca County. The tornado moved through far southeast Itasca County, crossing US Highway 2 and dissipating near a grove of trees approximately 1 mile west of the St. Louis County line. The tornado destroyed several pole barns, lofted a roof from a house, and destroyed the house. Analysis of the construction methods at this location, and surrounding damage, yielded a rating of EF-0. However, EF-1 tree damage was noted immediately west and north of Sabo 2 and continued eastward. The tornado reached its maximum intensity approximately 2.2 miles southwest of Wawina where high-end EF-1 damage was noted to a stand of trees. Oblique angle aerial photography from the western end of the track revealed a path through the bog adjacent to US-2, which was not directly observable from the air nor from the ground. The tornado moved through two small stands of trees breaking branches and snapping a few narrow trunks before dissipating. Several videos and photographs of this tornado have been reported.

Tornadic thunderstorms formed in a very unstable airmass ahead of a cold front that moved through the area during the evening. Storms developed around 5 pm, and moved rapidly east, affecting much of northeast Minnesota and parts of northwest Wisconsin. Tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds occurred across parts of the area.

Damage surveys conducted by National Weather Service meteorologists confirmed 4 tornadoes over northeast Minnesota that evening. The strength of the tornadoes ranged from EF0 to EF2.