A series of tornado touchdowns were reported on the afternoon of the 21st, causing minor damage to several farms in west central Minnesota. These tornadoes were associated with a cold core 500 millibar low pressure system passing through the Northern Plains. The surface pattern was also conducive to these events, with a low pressure area also over west central Minnesota in the afternoon. A cold front extended southward from the surface low with a warm front extending out to the east.

Hail in OTTER TAIL, MINNESOTA
From 21-APR-12 13:05:00 to 21-APR-12 13:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: FERGUS FALLS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Pea to dime sized hail fell about one inch deep on the highway.

Funnel Cloud in CLAY, MINNESOTA
From 21-APR-12 11:23:00 to 21-APR-12 11:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: DILWORTH
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Multiple funnels were observed across central Clay County from near Felton towards Ulen and down through the Dilworth and Glyndon areas toward Downer. These occurred mainly from 1123 to 1200 CST. Most were short lived but one or more were persistent for several minutes.

Funnel Cloud in WILKIN, MINNESOTA
From 21-APR-12 12:24:00 to 21-APR-12 12:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: FOXHOME
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Multiple brief funnels were observed moving eastward across Wilkin County. One of these produced a very brief and non-damaging ground contact near the intersection of county roads 16 and 19.

Hail in GRANT, MINNESOTA
From 21-APR-12 13:45:00 to 21-APR-12 13:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: ASHBY
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

In inch or more of pea to penny sized hail caused very icy conditions along stretches of Interstate 94 in northeastern Grant County.

Funnel Cloud in GRANT, MINNESOTA
From 21-APR-12 13:50:00 to 21-APR-12 13:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELBOW LAKE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Tornado in OTTER TAIL, MINNESOTA
From 21-APR-12 13:11:00 to 21-APR-12 13:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: FERGUS FALLS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

This tornado touched down near a farmstead and tracked eastward for about two miles before lifting. The tornado popped three empty steel grain bins off their concrete pads and tumbled them around quite violently. The tornado also tore the doors off an enclosed pole shed, tore the roofing panels off, and uplifted and displaced the rafters. Two young men working at the farmstead witnessed the tornado approaching and sought shelter in the damaged pole shed but were not injured. Peak winds were estimated at 90 mph.

Tornado in CLAY, MINNESOTA
From 21-APR-12 11:41:00 to 21-APR-12 11:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRAWFORD
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

This tornado touched down near a farmstead west of Minnesota highway 9 and tracked eastward for about one quarter of mile before lifting. A spotter reported several four foot by six foot tin roofing panels were blown off a pole shed and carried eastward across Minnesota highway 9. Peak winds were estimated at 70 to 80 mph.

Tornado in WILKIN, MINNESOTA
From 21-APR-12 11:35:00 to 21-APR-12 11:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: KENT
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

This tornado touched down near a farmstead and then tracked intermittently to the east for about a half mile. The tornado tore all of the tin roofing and roof panels from an open faced pole shed. It also tore down several tree limbs in the farmyard and tossed a trampoline on top of the garage. Peak winds were estimated at 80 mph.