Severe thunderstorms that developed across South Dakota early Saturday morning, August 28th, quickly moved into west central Minnesota and produced up to 3 diameter hail in Swift County. These storms congealed into a fast moving bow-echo that surged across parts of central Minnesota, between Willmar, St. Cloud and Mora. Several areas received very large hail, severe wind gusts and straight-line winds, and there was one tornado south of Albany. As the storms moved over east-central Minnesota, the severity of the storms lessened and only produced isolated wind damage around Milaca. The worst damaged areas were near Glenwood, Sauk Centre, and north and east of St. Cloud where numerous trees were blown down.

Hail in BENTON, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 11:00:00 to 28-AUG-21 11:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: POPPLE CREEK
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

There were multiple vehicles damaged with windows broken. In addition, siding on houses was damaged and numerous windows were broken to houses and outbuildings in and around Popple Creek.

Hail in MILLE LACS, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 11:30:00 to 28-AUG-21 11:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: FORESTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 09:00:00 to 28-AUG-21 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: APPLETON ARPT
Magnitude: 3.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 09:24:00 to 28-AUG-21 09:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: DANVERS
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in POPE, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 09:38:00 to 28-AUG-21 09:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: GLENWOOD
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

A trained spotter had a hand held wind sensor that measured the wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in POPE, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 09:45:00 to 28-AUG-21 09:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: LONG BEACH
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

There were numerous reports of large tree branches blown down. There was also damage to MNDOT road signs and damage to cornfields.

Thunderstorm Wind in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 10:10:00 to 28-AUG-21 10:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: SAUK CENTRE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

There were numerous trees blown down in the town of Sauk Centre.

Hail in DOUGLAS, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 09:54:00 to 28-AUG-21 09:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: OSAKIS
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in MORRISON, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 10:46:00 to 28-AUG-21 10:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: UPSALA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Hail in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 10:50:00 to 28-AUG-21 10:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: SARTELL
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MORRISON, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 10:58:00 to 28-AUG-21 10:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROYALTON
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 10:32:00 to 28-AUG-21 10:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: AVON
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

There were large trees blown down in Avon.

Thunderstorm Wind in POPE, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 09:40:00 to 28-AUG-21 09:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: VILLARD
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

There were numerous large trees blown down along Highway 29, and along Lake Reno.

Thunderstorm Wind in MORRISON, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 10:40:00 to 28-AUG-21 10:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: UPSALA
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several large trees and power lines were blown down near Upsala.

Thunderstorm Wind in MILLE LACS, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 11:52:00 to 28-AUG-21 11:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: ISLE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A few trees were blown down, one large pine tree had its top blown off to the south near Isle.

Hail in BENTON, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 10:55:00 to 28-AUG-21 10:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: SAUK RAPIDS
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail damaged siding in Sauk Rapids.

Hail in BENTON, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 10:55:00 to 28-AUG-21 10:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: SAUK RAPIDS
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in BENTON, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 11:00:00 to 28-AUG-21 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: POPPLE CREEK
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Thunderstorm Wind in MILLE LACS, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 11:25:00 to 28-AUG-21 11:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: MILACA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A few large trees were blown down north of Milaca.

Tornado in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 28-AUG-21 10:26:00 to 28-AUG-21 10:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: FARMING
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A storm chaser reported a brief tornado, and so a storm survey was conducted. The tornado tracked mostly across fields, but it did damage about two dozen trees, some of which were knocked over. The tornado was not always strong enough to produce corn and tree damage, but it did so occasionally along its path. The storm chaser took drone video a few days later, also revealing the tornado path.