Chetek tornado warnings gave lead-time; severe risk again today
Timely tornado warnings from the Twin Cities National Weather Service office appear to have given plenty of lead time before Tuesday evening's deadly tornado slammed into a mobile home park near Chetek, Wisconsin.
The timeline of the tornado event shows tornado warnings were issued early, giving as much as 30 to 56 minutes of lead-time for residents to take cover.
Storm warning timeline
I've assembled a timeline of key events based on reports from the Twin Cities NWS, NOAA's Storm Prediction center and other sources. Here are the key time points.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
4 pm: NOAA's Storm Prediction Center issues a tornado watch including Barron County.
4:39 pm: First tornado warning issued for Barron County by the Twin Cities NWS.
4:50 pm: A funnel cloud is reported near Arland in Barron County.
5:00 pm: Sirens sounded in Barron County. (Barron County Sheriff)
5:05 pm: A second tornado warning is issued by the Twin Cities NWS.
5:35 pm: Reports indicate tornado hits Chetek, killing 1, injuring at least 20.
Long-track tornado?
NWS survey teams are in the field today. Preliminary indications suggest Tuesday's tornado appears to have been a so called "long-track" tornado with a path length that may approach 90 miles.
If the tornado path was continuous, NWS storm reports indicate the tornado may have been on the ground for at least 90 minutes, from around 5:30 pm to at near 7 pm.
4 NW Chetek [Barron Co, WI] EMERGENCY MNGR reports TORNADO at 16 May, 5:35 PM CDT -- *** 1 FATAL, 20 INJ *** NUMEROUS MOBILE HOMES DESTROYED. THERE WAS 1 FATALITY AND AT LEAST 20 INJURIES.
1 S Ladysmith [Rusk Co, WI] PUBLIC reports TORNADO at 16 May, 7:00 PM CDT -- REPORT OF WIDESPREAD DAMAGE FROM LADYSMITH TO CORNELL, WI. TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
Severe risk again today
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center paints another risk zone across southern Minnesota and Wisconsin today. More low level spin (shear) in the atmosphere means a few more tornadoes can't be ruled out today in the risk zone.
NOAA's HRRR model shows storms developing again and spinning north into the Twin Cities again this afternoon.
Stay alert for possible watches and warnings again this afternoon and evening.