A record breaking day occurred across the Upper Midwest as temperatures soared into the 60s and 70s across southern Minnesota during the afternoon of Saturday, November 10th.  Thunderstorms developed across eastern Nebraska late in the day, and moved northeast across southern Minnesota during the evening. A powerful low level jet of 65 knots developed ahead of a strong cold front late Saturday evening. This low level jet combined with ample instability to create several lines of thunderstorms across southern Minnesota. One line of thunderstorms moved through the southern and eastern metro area of the Twin Cities, and produced four EF-0 tornadoes, along with damaging straight line winds. One tornado moved through the Burnsville area, the second moved through Eagan, the third occurred near Lilydale, and the fourth hit Mahtomedi and Grant.  In addition to the tornadoes, there was a long path of damaging straight line winds that caused numerous large trees to blow down onto houses, cars and other public and private structures.  These were the latest Minnesota tornadoes in a calendar year in the Storm Prediction Center database (which began in 1950), although there may have been one later tornado on Nov 16, 1931 (but records of tornadoes were not maintained before 1950).

Tornado in DAKOTA, MINNESOTA
From 10-NOV-12 23:05:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: MENDOTA
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A brief EF-0 tornado spun up near Skyline Drive, east of Highway 13, and tracked north-northeast to the Lost Spur Golf Course just south of Interstate 494. The tornado tracked for two blocks in a heavily wooded residential area before moving across a small golf course as it dissipated. Numerous large trees and power lines were blown down along the path of approximately one-half mile.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAKOTA, MINNESOTA
From 10-NOV-12 23:08:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: MENDOTA HGTS
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

About two dozen trees were downed from Mendota to Lilydale, for about two miles along Highway 13, and on either side of Interstate 35E.  The trees were all oriented from southwest to northeast, and there was no concentrated area of damage. The damage was most likely due to rear flank downdraft winds.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAKOTA, MINNESOTA
From 10-NOV-12 23:06:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: MENDOTA
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A storm survey revealed that straight line winds of 65 mph were associated with the rear flank downdraft from the tornado that dissipated at the Lost Spur Golf Course. These severe winds blew shingles off a hotel roof and knocked down trees from near Interstate 494 and Pilot Knob Road, northeast to a business community.

Thunderstorm Wind in DAKOTA, MINNESOTA
From 10-NOV-12 23:09:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: MENDOTA HGTS
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A storm survey indicated a large downburst damage swath with numerous downed trees in the northeastern section of Mendota Heights, and the northern portion of West St. Paul. A large part of the damage pattern across northeastern Mendota Heights and West St. Paul was directed toward the east, northeast and north. It was a very standard pattern of downburst winds. Many of the trees landed on homes, cars and garages. Some of the garages were pushed off their foundations. Some of the most significant downburst damage was in a 5-10 block area surrounding Dodd Road, Delaware and Smith Avenue.

Tornado in WASHINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 10-NOV-12 23:21:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAHTOMEDI
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hundreds of trees were toppled or snapped. Some trees fell on cars, houses and sheds.  The tornado touched down in Mahtomedi, just east of the White Bear Lake shore, and it moved northeast into the northeastern part of Grant.  The most significant damage was shortly after touchdown, near the intersection of Hazel and Moccasin in far northern Mahtomedi, where strong EF-0 damage was noted.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 10-NOV-12 23:20:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAHTOMEDI
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several trees were knocked down or broken along the eastern shore of White Bear Lake.  This was most likely from a rear flank downdraft, and was associated with the storm that would soon produce the tornado in Washington County at 2321 CST.

Thunderstorm Wind in LE SUEUR, MINNESOTA
From 10-NOV-12 22:38:00 to 10-NOV-12 22:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW PRAGUE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Roof and siding damage occurred at a home in New Prague.

Tornado in DAKOTA, MINNESOTA
From 10-NOV-12 23:10:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: LILYDALE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A brief EF-0 tornado developed east of Lilydale, just southeast of the intersection of Highway 13 and Wachtler Avenue.  It tracked northeast across a subdivision in extreme northern Mendota Heights. Several dozen large trees were blown down onto homes, cars and sheds.

Thunderstorm Wind in RAMSEY, MINNESOTA
From 10-NOV-12 23:17:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORTH ST PAUL
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A few trees were blown down from Mounds Park, then north-northeast to around Johnson Parkway, and Minnehaha Avenue, then northeast to the White Bear Lake area.

Thunderstorm Wind in RAMSEY, MINNESOTA
From 10-NOV-12 23:16:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST PAUL
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Measured at St Paul Holman Field.

Thunderstorm Wind in RAMSEY, MINNESOTA
From 10-NOV-12 23:13:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST PAUL
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This is a continuation in Ramsey County of the wind damage that hit Mendota Heights and West St. Paul in Dakota County.  It tracked northeast across south central St Paul, from Smith and Annapolis to St Paul Holman Field, but damage was more sporadic than when it hit Dakota County. Most of the damage was due to trees landing on cars, houses and sheds.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 10-NOV-12 23:27:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRANT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

There were isolated trees, large branches and power lines down from the northeastern corner of Grant into the southern part of May Township near Big Carnelian Lake (about six miles north of Stillwater).  The wind also peeled heavy gauge steel off of a barn roof and took the large doors off.  The south end up of a farm shop was lifted up a few inches, pushing the west wall out and displacing the roof.  Power poles were down as well.

Tornado in DAKOTA, MINNESOTA
From 10-NOV-12 22:58:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: BURNSVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-0 tornado developed northeast of the intersection of County Road 5 and McAndrews Road, and tracked northeast to just southwest of the intersection of Burnsville Parkway and County Road 11. A large area of uprooted trees and power lines occurred along a non-continuous broken path of 2.8 miles in a heavily populated region of Burnsville. The worst damage occurred in a two block area between Knoll Lane and Nicollet Avenue, and Nicollet Jr High School.