The July 8, 2020 tornado
EF4Grant and Otter Tail counties, Minnesota
An EF4 tornado on a 8.9-mile path that killed 1 and injured 2. It was one of 18 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day.
Watch how it happenedEF4 tornado · July 8, 2020
How it happened
Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.
The tornado
- Rating
- EF4
- Enhanced Fujita scale
- Path length
- 8.9 mi
- Width up to 650 yards
- Killed
- 1
- Along the whole path
- Injured
- 2
- Along the whole path
- Date and time
- Wednesday, July 8, 2020
- 4:08 PM CST
The National Weather Service account
Written by the local Weather Service office after its damage survey.
This tornado began in Grant County, but after about two miles, it crossed into Otter Tail County, where it ended about 5 miles east of Dalton. The total track through both counties was about 9 miles. Peak winds were estimated at 170 mph, based on available damage indicators. At least 10 farmsteads were impacted, with three homes, one pole shed, and one machine shed destroyed.
The storm system that day
A lone weak cell appeared on radar at 430 pm CDT over northern Grant County, Minnesota. Numerous storm chasers had congregated in this area, hoping to see a good storm to chase. By 5 pm, the cell had blossomed into a strong thunderstorm. Weather spotters, law enforcement, and storm chasers then reported a funnel coming down toward the ground slightly after 505 pm. A tornado warning was issued at 508 pm (until 6 pm) for portions of south central Otter Tail and northeast Grant counties. This tornado tracked about 9 miles through the warned area, before dissipating. At its peak strength, it was rated as an EF-4 tornado. Another rotation was noted a little later, leading to a second tornado warning at 635 pm (until 7 pm), this time for southwest Wadena and southeast Otter Tail counties.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.
Counties on its path
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. Path drawn as a straight line from the recorded start to end point.