Wadena tornado
On June 17, 2010, a large, rainwrapped and damaging EF4 tornado directly struck the city of Wadena, Minnesota. It was part of a widespread and prolific tornado outbreak across portions of the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The storm caused severe levels of devastation across parts of the city, with the tornado becoming the costliest of the entire outbreak, as monetary losses were estimated at $32 million (USD). 20 people were injured during the event, though no fatalities were reported.
What was the Wadena tornado?
The Wadena tornado was a large, rainwrapped EF4 tornado that struck Wadena, Minnesota, on June 17, 2010. This event occurred as part of a significant tornado outbreak affecting the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The storm caused major devastation across the city, resulting in $32 million in monetary losses. It holds the distinction of being the first violent EF4 tornado in Minnesota since July 25, 2000. Emergency services reported 20 injuries from the event, but zero fatalities.
What was the Wadena tornado wind speed?
The National Weather Service office in Grand Forks, North Dakota, assigned a low-end EF4 rating to the Wadena tornado. Forecasters estimated the maximum winds produced by the vortex reached 170 mph (270 km/h). This intense wind speed reflects the violent nature of the storm as it tracked through urbanized portions of the city. Such measurements indicate the severe structural damage caused to homes, schools, and local businesses in the path of the storm.
What was the Wadena tornado path?
The tornado touched down at 4:59 p.m. CDT, approximately 2 miles west of the Otter Tail and Wadena County border. It tracked for 10 miles (16 km) across the two counties, reaching a maximum width of 1,936 yards (1.1 miles). After plowing through the western and northern sections of Wadena, the storm moved northeast. It finally dissipated at 5:16 p.m. CDT near a farmstead on 204th Street, located south-southeast of Sebeka, Minnesota.
How many people died in the Wadena tornado?
No fatalities occurred during the Wadena tornado event. Emergency management and medical responders confirmed that 20 people sustained injuries as the storm moved through the city. Despite the widespread destruction of residential properties and public infrastructure, the population remained safe from life-ending trauma. This lack of fatalities is notable given the violent EF4 rating and the direct impact on urbanized areas of Wadena.
What did the Wadena tornado destroy?
The tornado flattened numerous residences and destroyed several businesses after entering the western side of Wadena. It caused significant damage to the Wadena-Deer Creek Middle and High School, where it collapsed roof sections and inner walls. The storm threw school buses and vehicles into the air, tossing them hundreds of yards. It also destroyed eight buildings at the city fairgrounds, including the grandstand, and overturned headstones at the Wadena Cemetery Association.
What caused the Wadena tornado?
A long-lived supercell that originated in Stevens County, Minnesota, spawned the Wadena tornado. Atmospheric conditions featured dew points rising to 70 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, paired with Mixed Layer Convective Available Potential Energy values reaching 2000-3000 joules per kilogram. A negatively tilted short-wave trough lifting out of the Great Basin region provided the necessary dynamics. Vertical shear in the 50-70 knot range from a mid-level jet streak allowed the supercell to sustain tornadic development.
What happened after the Wadena tornado?
The Minnesota National Guard arrived in Wadena on June 18 to assist with search, rescue, and cleanup efforts. County commissioners declared the city a major disaster area following damage to 234 homes and 20 city blocks. On July 2, the Obama administration granted a federal emergency declaration (FEMA-1921-DR) for the affected regions. State and federal surveyors spent several days evaluating the damage to ensure that disaster relief reached the impacted communities in northwestern and southern Minnesota.
Wadena Tornado Track
The mapped ground track below shows the surveyed touchdown point, damage corridor, and dissipation coordinates recorded by NWS field crews. The Wadena tornado traveled 10 miles across Otter Tail and Wadena counties, Minnesota. Coordinates are derived from the official SPC historical tornado database.
Did anyone die in the Wadena tornado?
No fatalities were reported during the Wadena tornado, although 20 people sustained injuries.
How much damage did the Wadena tornado cause?
The Wadena tornado caused an estimated $32 million in damage, making it the costliest storm of the June 2010 outbreak.
What was the Fujita scale rating of the Wadena tornado?
The National Weather Service rated the Wadena tornado as a low-end EF4.
When did the Wadena tornado strike?
The tornado struck Wadena, Minnesota, on June 17, 2010, between 5:02 p.m. CDT and 5:16 p.m. CDT.