Storm log
Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021
Tornado 4 miles east-southeast of Kenyon; Faribault under a severe thunderstorm warning
The National Weather Service logged eight storm reports within 20 miles: two tornado and six wind; they came in two rounds: 7:18 to 8:19 p.m. and 10:40 to 11:15 p.m. It issued three warnings for Rice County: two severe thunderstorm warnings and a high wind warning; two of them included Faribault.
- Storm reports
- 8Within 20 miles
- Warnings
- 3For Rice County
- Under a warning
- 0 hr 42 minFaribault, under a tornado, severe thunderstorm or flash flood warning
- Faribault warned
- YesTwo warnings
- Forecast that morning: The Storm Prediction Center's outlook that morning, issued at 6:36 a.m., had Faribault in a moderate risk of severe storms. Its chances within 25 miles of Faribault: a tornado 10%; hail 1 inch or larger 5%; wind 58 mph or stronger 45%.
- In 2021: Rice County's fifth day with a severe thunderstorm warning, and the 24th storm day of the year.
- Against the records: 75 mph ties for the second-highest measured gust within 20 miles since 2008.
Round 1, 7:18 to 8:19 p.m.Round 2, 10:40 to 11:15 p.m.
- High wind warning, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Dec. 16; over Faribault
- Severe thunderstorm warning, 7:18 to 8 p.m.; over Faribault
- Severe thunderstorm warning, 7:48 to 8:18 p.m.
- 8 storm reports, 7:25 to 11:15 p.m.
Bars: warnings, from issue to end; filled when the warning covered Faribault. Dots: storm reports at the time of each. Rounds: tornado, severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings and storm reports with no gap of an hour or more between them; at most three, the shortest gaps joined first.
- Temperature 36° to 63°
- Wind gusts to 49 mph
- Pressure 28.98 to 29.81 in.
High 63° at 4:55 p.m., low 36° at 11:55 p.m. Peak gust 49 mph at 11:55 p.m. Shaded: the storm's rounds (7:18 to 8:19 p.m. and 10:40 to 11:15 p.m.). The airport reports about every 20 minutes, so a gust between its reports isn't in this record. Pressure is its altimeter setting, in inches of mercury. Over The airport's day Midnight to midnight standard time all year (1 a.m. to 1 a.m. in daylight time): the day the airport's high and low cover. This site's report card: midnight to midnight standard time.
- Tornado 2
- Wind 6
- Severe thunderstorm warning outlines 2
- Faribault
- 20 miles
Readings saved when the warning ended
Chanhassen radar (KMPX), saved during the warning
Within 20 miles of Faribault, from the National Weather Service; the numbers match the map.
- Elko New Market 2
- Kenyon 2
- Morristown 1
- Owatonna 1
- Randolph 1
- Waseca 1
| No. | Time | Report | Where | From Faribault | Reported by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7:25 p.m. | Thunderstorm wind gust 75 mph, measured | 1 mile west-northwest of Morristown | 10 miles southwest of Faribault | Trained storm spotter |
| 2 | 7:50 p.m. | TornadoRemarkTORNADO SPUN UP NEAR THE GOODHUE/DODGE COUNTY BORDER NEAR 170TH AVE AND TRACKED NORTHEAST 3.9 MILES. IT SNAPPED PINE TREES, DESTROYED THE TOP HALF OF A BARN, AND LOFTED DEBRIS WESTWARD INTO A FIELD. IT ENDED AROUND 100TH AVE SOUTH OF COUNTY 54 BLVD. MAX WIND 100 MPH, WIDTH 75 YARDS. | 7 miles southeast of Kenyon | 20 miles east of Faribault | NWS storm survey |
| 3 | 7:51 p.m. | TornadoRemarkA BRIEF TORNADO SPUN UP SOUTHEAST OF KENYON AROUND 66TH AVE AND CONTINUED NORTHEAST ACROSS 480TH STREET. IT DESTROYED A FEW FARM BUILDINGS AND SNAPPED SEVERAL TREES. DEBRIS WAS LOFTED WEST ACROSS 66TH AVE. MAX WIND 95 MPH, WIDTH 75 YARDS. | 4 miles east-southeast of Kenyon | 19 miles east of Faribault | NWS storm survey |
| 4 | 7:59 p.m. | Thunderstorm wind gust 68 mph, measuredRemarkCORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND GST REPORT FROM 2 SW ELKO NEW MARKET. PERSONAL WEATHER STATION. | 2 miles southwest of Elko New Market | 18 miles north of Faribault | Weather station network (mesonet) |
| 5 | 8:19 p.m. | Thunderstorm wind gust 68 mph, measuredRemarkPERSONAL WEATHER STATION. | 2 miles southwest of Elko New Market | 18 miles north of Faribault | Weather station network (mesonet) |
| 6 | 10:40 p.m. | Wind gust 58 mph, measuredRemarkMESONET STATION MN039 WASECA 1SSE. | 2 miles south-southeast of Waseca | 19 miles southwest of Faribault | Weather station network (mesonet) |
| 7 | 10:53 p.m. | Wind gust 62 mph, measuredRemarkAWOS STATION KOWA OWATONNA AP. | 3 miles north-northwest of Owatonna | 12 miles south of Faribault | Airport weather station (AWOS) |
| 8 | 11:15 p.m. | Wind gust 58 mph, measuredRemarkAWOS STATION KSYN STANTON AP. | 4 miles south of Randolph | 18 miles northeast of Faribault | Airport weather station (AWOS) |
Each opens to its details. “What happened” is this site's own check, not the National Weather Service's verification: a report of the warning's kind, at warning size, inside its outline while it was in effect.
High wind warning 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Dec. 16 Included Faribault
- Issued
- 6 p.m.
- In effect until
- 6 a.m., Dec. 16
- Area
- Rice County's forecast zone
- Faribault
- Yes, inside its area.
Severe thunderstorm warning 7:18 to 8 p.m. Included Faribault
- Issued
- 7:18 p.m.
- In effect until
- 8 p.m.
- Area
- The outline the weather service drew (on the map)
- Faribault
- Yes, inside its area.
- What happened (the site's check)
- Yes: thunderstorm wind gust 75 mph 1 mile west-northwest of Morristown at 7:25 p.m.
Severe thunderstorm warning 7:48 to 8:18 p.m. Faribault outside
- Issued
- 7:48 p.m.
- In effect until
- 8:18 p.m.
- Area
- The outline the weather service drew (on the map)
- Faribault
- No, outside its area.
- What happened (the site's check)
- Yes: thunderstorm wind gust 68 mph 6 miles southwest of Wanamingo at 7:54 p.m.
- Sept. 20, 2018: Tornado in Faribault under a tornado warning
- Aug. 29, 2025: Landspout 5 miles east-southeast of Kenyon
- Aug. 27, 2018: Wind damage in Faribault; tornado warning nearby
Storm days since 2005 whose first tag is Tornado, as this one's is, nearest in time of year; never within two days of this one.