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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
607 PM CDT Sat May 14 2022

...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 05/12/22 TORNADO EVENTS...

.OVERVIEW...A fast moving and long tracking Derecho /downburst/
wind episode tracked north-northeastward from northeastern
NE, through eastern SD and southwestern MN into far southeastern 
ND and westcentral MN, through the late afternoon and early 
evening of Thursday, May 12, 2022. This mesoscale convective storm
system produced damaging downburst winds, measured from 60 to 95 
mph, over a broad multi-county wide portion of the NWS Grand Forks
ND warning area, with a number of embedded tornadic supercell 
thunderstorms, wrapped within the damaging winds and heavy rains.
This summary reports on the distinct and confirmed tornadoes based
on ground surveys and damage reports gathered through the 
afternoon of May 14, 2022. These are preliminary reports, with 
additional investigations still ongoing.


.TORNADO #1... North Ottawa Tornado

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated peak wind:    100 mph
Path length /Statute/:  3 miles
Path width /Maximum/:   150 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             May 12 2022 
Start time:             707 pm CDT
Start location:         0.5 SE Charlesville / Grant County / MN
Start Lat/Lon:          45.9459 / -96.2604

End date:               May 12 2022
End time:               710 pm CDT
End location:           13 W Elbow Lake / Grant County / MN
End lat/lon:            45.9850 / -96.2476

SURVEY SUMMARY:
Several large Ash and Cottonwood tree limbs were broken down in
shelterbelts. At least 2 wooden power poles were cracked and 2
others were leaning as a result of this storm.


.TORNADO #2... Le Mars Tornado

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated peak wind:    100 mph
Path length /Statute/:  3 miles
Path width /Maximum/:   150 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             May 12 2022 
Start time:             710 pm CDT
Start location:         1.5 WSW Le Mars / Richland County / ND
Start Lat/Lon:          45.9611 / -96.7215

End date:               May 12 2022
End time:               713 pm CDT
End location:           3 NNW Le Mars / Richland County / ND
End lat/lon:            46.0012 / -96.7197

SURVEY SUMMARY:
Several large Ash and Box Elder tree limbs were broken down in
shelterbelts. At least 2 wooden power poles were cracked and 2
others were leaning as a result of this storm.


.TORNADO 3 or... Campbell Tornado

Rating:                 EF-2
Estimated peak wind:    115 mph
Path length /Statute/:  9 miles
Path width /Maximum/:   500 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             May 12 2022 
Start time:             716 pm CDT
Start location:         1 SW Tenney / Wilkin County / MN
Start Lat/Lon:          46.0332 / -96.4703

End date:               May 12 2022
End time:               725 pm CDT
End location:           3 N Campbell / Wilkin County / MN
End lat/lon:            46.1441 / -96.4027

SURVEY SUMMARY: 
This Tornado was best marked by the trail of at least 23 power
poles which were cracked or completely snapped along its route. In
addition to the trees snapped and garage doors blown in at a few
rural homesteads, the community of Campbell had widespread tree
damage, with numerous spruce trees uprooted and partially leafed-
out ash and cottonwood trees snapped. Falling trees damaged 
numerous homes and vehicles throughout the community. Large steel 
grain bins at the Campbell elevator complex were partially caved 
in.


.Tornado #4... Battle Lake Tornado

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated peak wind:    100 mph
Path length /Statute/:  3.5 miles
Path width /Maximum/:   300 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             May 12 2022 
Start time:             731 pm CDT
Start location:         2 SW Battle Lake / Otter Tail County / MN
Start Lat/Lon:          45.2623 / -95.7460

End date:               May 12 2022
End time:               734 pm CDT
End location:           1.5 NNE Battle Lake / Otter Tail Co. / MN
End lat/lon:            46.2999 / -95.7027


SURVEY SUMMARY:
One single-wide trailer was flipped. Numerous spruce, poplar and
ash trees were snapped or uprooted. Metal roofing was blown off of
storage near the airport. Additional damage information is
pending.


.TORNADO #5... West Mason Lake

Rating:                 EF-0
Estimated peak wind:    85 mph 
Path length /Statute/:  1 mile 
Path width /Maximum/:   25 yards 
Fatalities:             0 
Injuries:               0

Start date:             May 12 2022 
Start time:             740 pm CDT
Start location:         3 NNE Clitherall / Otter Tail County / MN
Start Lat/Lon:          46.3130 / -95.5970

End date:               May 12 2022
End time:               741 pm CDT
End location:           4 NNE Cltherall / Otter Tail Co. / MN
End lat/lon:            46.3207 / -95.5908

SURVEY SUMMARY: 
A waterspout was observed over West Mason Lake. A survey of the
area showed several large 6 to 10 inch diameter tree branches
broken down on the north shore.


.TORNADO #6... Verndale Tornado

Rating:                 EF-2
Estimated peak wind:    115 mph
Path length /Statute/:  16 miles 
Path width /Maximum/:   500 yards 
Fatalities:             0 
Injuries:               0

Start date:             May 12 2022 
Start time:             753 pm CDT
Start location:         1 SW Verndale / Wadena County / MN
Start Lat/Lon:          46.3863 / -95.0381

End date:               May 12 2022
End time:               811 pm CDT
End location:           5.5 ESE Sebeka / Wadena County / MN
End lat/lon:            46.6070 / -94.9853

SURVEY SUMMARY: 
This Tornado was discerned by a combination of radar data and a
few more extreme damage indicators along its path, which included
numerous snapped power poles. There were numerous spruce, poplar
and ash trees which were snapped or uprooted throughout a broad
area, as this tornado was wrapped in heavy rains and more
widespread downburst winds. Falling trees damaged numerous homes
and vehicles throughout the communities of Verndale and Blue
Grass, and the surrounding rural areas. Numerous farm buildings,
many that were opened to the south, had steel roofing and 
sidewall panels torn off the the winds. Turkey barns, and other 
industrial buildings lost roofing materials as well. Additional 
damage information is pending.


EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale Classifies Tornadoes into the
following categories.

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 To 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is PRELIMINARY and subject to
change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS 
Storm Data. 

$$

Gust