Meteorologists in the United States use the Fujita Scale to classify tornadoes based on their strength. The combination of wind speed and damage provides a rating from F0, or mildly damaging hurricane winds, to F5, a violent and devastating tornado. A 2007 update to the Fujita Scale resulted in the improved Fujita Scale. The new scale resembles the original with tornado grades from EF0 to EF5, but slightly reclassifies tornadoes to reflect more recent knowledge of damage caused by different wind speeds.
Located at the north end of the so-called “tornado alley,” the Minneapolis-St. The greater Paul area experiences periodic tornadoes. Between 1950 and 2016, Minnesota saw 1,835 tornadoes; More than 30 landed in Hennepin County, home of the Twin Cities.
North Minneapolis Tornado, May 22, 2011
Three tornadoes landed in the Twin Cities on May 22, 2011, with the most severe hit in North Minneapolis. The north Minneapolis tornado damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes, mostly uprooting large trees that fell on buildings and cars. The tornado directly killed one resident, while a second person died during cleanup efforts. More than 30 people were injured. The North Minneapolis tornado recorded an EF1 or EF2 in strength.
The Minneapolis Tornado, August 19, 2009
Several tornadoes hit the Twin Cities Wednesday afternoon, the largest of which damaged a church, the Electric Fetus record store, the Minneapolis Convention Center and several other buildings south of downtown Minneapolis.
The Hugo Tornado, May 25, 2008
Around 5 p.m., an EF-3 classified tornado touched down in Lino Lakes, a northeast suburb of St. Paul, and passed through the town of Hugo. The tornado destroyed 50 houses, killed a 2-year-old boy and seriously injured eight more people in Hugo. The tornado struck Memorial Day weekend; The timing may have helped keep injury counts low, as many residents were out of town on vacation.
The Rogers Tornado, September 16, 2006
This tornado struck northern Hennepin County in the late afternoon. The F2 tornado struck around 10 p.m. and destroyed more than 300 buildings and homes. A 10-year-old girl died when her house collapsed. An MPR news report on the Rogers Tornado explains that the city’s emergency sirens did not sound to alert residents to the danger.
The Har Mar Tornado, June 14, 1981
The Har Mar Tornado, an F3, is also known as the Edina Tornado after where it first landed. After hitting the ground at 3:49 p.m., the tornado moved northeast through Minneapolis and Roseville, leaving 15 miles of devastation behind. The worst damage occurred in the Har Mar shopping center area. One man was killed in the tornado, 83 were injured and another man was killed in the cleanup effort.
The Twin Cities tornado outbreak, May 6, 1965
An outbreak of six tornadoes caused $ 51 million in damage and killed 14 people as they passed miles from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. Four of the tornadoes received F4 ratings, while the other two logged in at F3 and F2.
The St. Paul and Minneapolis tornado, August 21, 1904
Just after the turn of the 20th century, a tornado struck the metropolitan area, causing damage to the downtown areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul. It killed 14 people and caused significant damage to the High Bridge in St. Paul.
