An active weather pattern over Memorial Day weekend led to Minnesota's first confirmed tornadoes of 2019.
Two separate tornado events affected the state: the first produced two tornadoes north of Detroit Lakes on Friday May 24th, and the second produced several small tornadoes in far southern and southeastern Minnesota on Memorial Day--Monday May 27th.
The first tornado tracked over seven miles near Flom in Norman County, producing EF-0 damage. The second tornado that evening touched down near Waubun in Mahnomen County, earning an EF-1 rating from more substantial damage to trees.
Monday's tornadoes all were ranked EF-0, producing generally minor damage in Freeborn and Fillmore Counties during the early afternoon. Of the five tornadoes reported in Minnesota that day, only the one near Greenleafton had a path length greater than one mile.
Both tornado days were a bit atypical. Friday's tornadoes occurred with less than the usual amount of heat and humidity, and Monday's occurred on the tail end of a steady rain.
More information is currently available from the following National Weather Service Offices:
Grand Forks (Norman and Mahnomen Counties)
Twin Cities/Chanhassen (Freeborn County)
Updated May 29, 2019