The 17 June 2010 Minnesota Tornado Outbreak: A Brief Event Overview and Historical Perspective

During the afternoon and evening hours of 17 June 2010, a widespread outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes affected a large part of the state of Minnesota, and adjacent parts of eastern North Dakota and western Wisconsin. In Minnesota, at least 10 different tornadic supercell thunderstorms produced at least 25 tornadoes during a roughly 9 hour period between 1 and 10 PM CDT, resulting in 3 fatalities and at least 60 injuries. In addition, 3 tornadoes in Minnesota were rated at EF-4 intensity. In an historical context for the state of Minnesota, the 17 June 2010 outbreak constitutes the first multiple tornado fatality day since 29 March 1998, the largest in terms of tornado numbers since at least 16 June 1992, and the first time 3 or more violent tornadoes have occurred on the same day within Minnesota since 30 April 1967. This presentation will provide an overview of this event, and an historical perspective of its significance in the recorded history of Minnesota weather records.