A strong and potent upper level disturbance, combined with a cold front sweeping across the eastern Dakotas, fired a line of severe thunderstorms that moved eastward into western Minnesota toward midnight. This line of storms continued to progress east-northeast across southern and central Minnesota, which produced fast-moving tornadoes, severe measured wind gusts, and hail as large as tennis balls. This line slowly weakened as it moved into far eastern Minnesota, with general, non-severe thunderstorms as the line progressed into west central Wisconsin after 3 am.

Hail in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:30:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: SWIFT FALLS
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Hail in MORRISON, MINNESOTA
From 20-SEP-17 00:21:00 to 20-SEP-17 00:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: BOWLUS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 20-SEP-17 00:20:00 to 20-SEP-17 00:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: AVON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in HENNEPIN, MINNESOTA
From 20-SEP-17 01:40:00 to 20-SEP-17 01:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLOOMINGTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tornado in POPE, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:34:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: GILCHRIST
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down near Camp Lake in Swift County and then moved into Pope County, where it destroyed two machine sheds and several other outbuildings.  The tornado tore through many fields, damaging or destroying much corn.  It finally dissipated just after crossing State Highway 104, just before reaching Johanna Lake.

Tornado in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:49:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELROSA
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down on the edge of a corn field and moved east-northeast, missing the city of Elrosa by less than a mile. However, it hit several farms, including one where several metal sheds were destroyed.  The tornado also knocked down or uprooted many trees and also severely damaged crops, especially corn that was ready for harvest.

Thunderstorm Wind in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:55:00 to 20-SEP-17 00:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREENWALD
Magnitude: 68.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hundreds of trees, possibly over one thousand, were blown down across a broadening swath from northeast of Elrosa to Melrose. Numerous corn fields and other crops were also damaged. A storm survey determined this was due to downburst winds associated with a dissipating tornado and then downstream from the dissipated tornado. A building that was under construction was completely blown apart, and a commercial building lost part of its roof. Other sheds and outbuildings at farms also had some damage.

Tornado in KANDIYOHI, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:38:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: SUNBURG
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado moved out of Swift County and into northwestern Kandiyohi County. It knocked down trees, damaged crops, and destroyed two machine sheds at a farm.

Hail in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 20-SEP-17 00:56:00 to 20-SEP-17 00:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: WAITE PARK
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MILLE LACS, MINNESOTA
From 20-SEP-17 01:02:00 to 20-SEP-17 01:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: VINELAND
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 20-SEP-17 01:02:00 to 20-SEP-17 01:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: SARTELL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tornado in CHIPPEWA, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:18:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: MONTEVIDEO
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado began on the Chippewa County side of the Minnesota River, just east of the Montevideo golf course. It moved east-northeast across the south side of Montevideo. Most of the damage was to trees, but siding and shingles were taken off a few homes and the Montevideo Community Center.

Thunderstorm Wind in MILLE LACS, MINNESOTA
From 20-SEP-17 00:55:00 to 20-SEP-17 00:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: VINELAND
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees and power lines were blown down north of Vineland.

Tornado in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:32:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: SWIFT FALLS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.80M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down southwest of Camp Lake, where it hit some trees at a farmstead. It then moved across fields, damaging or destroying corn fields. It partially tore the roof off a turkey barn before hitting homes along the east side of Camp Lake. It was here that an observer reported his flag was blowing hard from the northwest as tennis ball size hail hit, then the flag suddenly switched and was blowing from the southeast while the hail continued, then from the southwest when the tornado moved in.  One modular home had windows blown in, a porch blown away, and its roof was uplifted to the point where driving rain got into much of the house. The tornado then hit an abandoned farm, rolling a mobile home and destroying several outbuildings before moving into Pope County (see separate entry).

Thunderstorm Wind in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:31:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: SWIFT FALLS
Magnitude: 63.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

About six evergreen trees were tipped over. Based on a storm survey, it was determined that this was due to rear flank downdraft winds, with the Camp Lake tornado about two-thirds mile to the north.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHIPPEWA, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:41:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLARA CITY
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Tornado in TODD, MINNESOTA
From 20-SEP-17 00:04:00 to 20-SEP-17 00:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: BURTRUM
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down on the east side of Big Swan Lake, where a few trees were downed. As the tornado moved northeast, it hit a number of lake homes and cabins, causing roof damage to several.  As the tornado reached the community of Pillsbury on the northeast side of Long Lake, a boat and attached dock were blown westward into the lake. Dozens of trees, including some two feet in diameter, were blown down or snapped. A home was shifted off its foundation by several inches.  Another home sustained minor damage to the roof and had some windows blown in. The tornado continued beyond Pillsbury, moving across open fields and woods, and dissipated just as it reached the Todd/Morrison County line.

Thunderstorm Wind in DOUGLAS, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:13:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRANDON
Magnitude: 63.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

About one dozen trees were broken or uprooted at two farms south of Brandon. A barn at the northern end of the damage lost part of its roof as wind got in through an open door. It appeared the damage was due to a downburst.

Thunderstorm Wind in DOUGLAS, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:18:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRANDON
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Dozens of trees were broken or uprooted from the area just north of Brandon to Leaf Valley Township. It appeared the damage was definitely due to a downburst, with a divergent pattern at Devils Lake.

Thunderstorm Wind in KANDIYOHI, MINNESOTA
From 20-SEP-17 00:15:00 to 20-SEP-17 00:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE LILLIAN
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several trees and large branches were broken.

Thunderstorm Wind in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:49:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: BROOTEN
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

About 20 trees were broken about 2/3 mile to the southeast of a tornado that was west of Elrosa. The tree damage was deemed to be due to rear flank downdraft winds.

Thunderstorm Wind in MORRISON, MINNESOTA
From 20-SEP-17 00:09:00 to 20-SEP-17 00:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: SWANVILLE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several dozen trees and a few corn fields were damaged in far western Morrison County, probably due to downburst or rear flank downdraft winds associated with the end of the Pillsbury tornado.

Tornado in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:48:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: BELGRADE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado knocked down several dozen trees, with some landing on cars and sheds. One tree landed on a mobile home. The tornado also destroyed a storage building (the building had been moved from another location and was still in the process of being made ready for business when the tornado came and blew it across the road).

Thunderstorm Wind in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:47:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: BROOTEN
Magnitude: 69.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

About two dozen trees were damaged, a house lost a portion of its roof, siding was peeled away, and corn fields sustained some damage.  This area may have been an earlier beginning point of the tornado that tracked from west to northeast of Elrosa, but damage was too scant to be certain, and therefore this damage has been listed as thunderstorm wind damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 20-SEP-17 00:06:00 to 20-SEP-17 00:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST ROSA
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

About two dozen trees and numerous corn fields were blown down. Based on a storm survey, it was determined that this area was hit with downburst winds. A small part of the roof from a turkey farm was blown off.

Thunderstorm Wind in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:48:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: BELGRADE
Magnitude: 63.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Dozens and possibly more than 100 trees were felled in Belgrade, just to the south of a tornado.  A storm survey determined this was due to rear flank downdraft winds associated with the Belgrade tornado.

Thunderstorm Wind in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:54:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELROSA
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A large shed lost part of its roof, a grain bin was dented in, other outbuildings were damaged, a few dozen trees were broken, and a few cornfields were damaged. This was all southeast of a tornado that tracked from west to northeast of Elrosa, and was deemed to be due to rear flank downdraft winds.

Hail in STEVENS, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 22:52:00 to 19-SEP-17 22:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: MORRIS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:46:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: BELGRADE
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A few dozen trees were damaged, the roof of an open sided shed was blown off, and several corn fields were damaged.  This area may have been an earlier beginning point of the Belgrade tornado, but damage was too scant to be certain, and therefore this damage has been listed as thunderstorm wind damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:30:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: SWIFT FALLS
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A few trees were damaged, a weak 4-legged metal tower was tipped over, and a shed was blown over.  This area may have been an earlier beginning point of the Camp Lake tornado, but damage was too scant to be certain, and therefore this damage has been listed as thunderstorm wind damage.

Tornado in CHIPPEWA, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:22:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: MONTEVIDEO
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado uprooted or snapped dozens of trees south of Montevideo and just east of the Minnesota River.

Hail in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:30:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: SWIFT FALLS
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail fell on the northeast side of Camp Lake, just before the tornado hit.

Thunderstorm Wind in POPE, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:39:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: GILCHRIST
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

About two hundred trees were broken or uprooted due to the rear flank downdraft that accompanied the Camp Lake tornado. This damage was one to two miles southeast of the dissipation point of the tornado.

Thunderstorm Wind in POPE, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:41:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: TERRACE
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A couple dozen trees were blown down or broken. Damage was scant, and therefore the storm survey was unable to determine if this was downburst or the continuation of the Camp Lake tornado. Radar data suggest it was probably downburst winds in the wake of the tornado.

Thunderstorm Wind in STEVENS, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 22:54:00 to 19-SEP-17 22:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: MORRIS
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Dozens of trees were damaged, shingled were blown off a house, a flag pole was bent, antennas were damaged on a radio tower, and a pump station at a co-op was blown over. There were also scattered trees down in the city of Morris. Based on radar, it is possible that this may have been tornado damage, but the report came in days later and by that time, the damage had been cleaned up and therefore a damage survey was not conducted.

Tornado in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 19-SEP-17 23:28:00 to 19-SEP-17 23:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: MURDOCK
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 1.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down in a corn field northwest of Murdock and moved northeast. The first structure that was hit was a church, which lost part of its roof.  Along the way, the tornado destroyed corn fields, knocked down or broke many trees, and blew apart six empty grain bins that were ready for harvest.  Three machine or equipment storage sheds were also destroyed and the roof of a restaurant was partially torn off. The tornado then moved into Kandiyohi County (see separate entry).