1881 Minnesota tornado outbreak

The 1881 Minnesota tornado outbreak was a deadly tornado outbreak that struck southern Minnesota on July 15–16, 1881. At least six tornadoes touched down between 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm CST, killing 24 people and injuring at least 123.[1] The deadliest tornado of the outbreak, an F4 that killed 20 people in and near New Ulm, was likely a tornado family that may have caused F5 damage to rural farmsteads. Six people died in New Ulm, where people from nearby settlements had congregated to avoid Native American attacks.[1]

1881 Minnesota tornado outbreak

Damage to New Ulm after the tornado
Type	Tornado outbreak
Duration	July 15–16, 1881
Tornadoes confirmed	≥ 6
Max. rating^1	F4 tornado
Duration of tornado outbreak^2	4 hours
Casualties	24 deaths, ≥ 123 injuries
^1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale ^2Time from first tornado to last tornado

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating

FU	F0	F1	F2	F3	F4	F5	Total
0	?	?	3	1	2	0	≥6

July 15 event

F#	Location	County	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
Minnesota
F4	SE of Ortonville to N of Appleton	Lac Qui Parle, Big Stone, Swift	2000	30 miles (48 km)	4 deaths – This long-lived, violent tornado may have first developed across the Minnesota–South Dakota state line in South Dakota.[1] It caused damage to six farms southeast of Odessa, but with no deaths. It leveled numerous farms near Odessa and Correll before killing four people in and near Fairfield in Swift County.[1]
F4	W of Bird Island to S of New Ulm	Renville, Sibley, Nicollet, Brown	2130	40 miles (64 km)	20 deaths – An "extremely violent" tornado family, likely of F5 intensity, devastated farms and the west side of New Ulm.[1] The tornado struck five farms in Wellington Township, obliterating every building on each of them and causing two deaths. The tornado killed five additional people in Cairo Township, all in one family.[1] On the Minnesota River, the tornado razed nine homes in West Newton, where five more people died. Observers reported two parallel damage swaths nearby, indicating two or more tornadoes in the area and possible reformation into a distinct event.[1] Next, the tornado veered sharply to the left as it entered the west side of New Ulm, destroying that section of town, demolishing 47 structures, and killing six people. The town was hard hit, with 247 buildings damaged or destroyed. Six of the fatalities occurred in the town itself.[1][2]
F2	S of Sleepy Eye	Brown, Watonwan	2250	8 miles (13 km)	A tornado leveled barns and snapped or uprooted trees.[1]
F2	N of Winnebago	Blue Earth, Faribault	0000	5 miles (8.0 km)	A tornado hit and destroyed 12 farm buildings, including three or more barns.[1]
F3	S of Mountain Lake to W of Odin	Cottonwood, Watonwan	0010	8 miles (13 km)	A tornado touched down near Mountain Lake, eliminating cattle and nearly leveling a farm; only a wall remained on the foundation. The tornado also tore off roofs from four other farmhouses.[1]
Sources: Grazulis[1]

July 16

F#	Location	County	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
Minnesota
F2	Unknown	Redwood	unknown	unknown	A tornado hit "Boys Lake", sweeping away a farmhouse, a stable, and outbuildings.[1]
Sources: Grazulis[1]

See also

• Climate of Minnesota
• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks

References

1. Grazulis 1993, p. 612
2. Seely 2006, p. 183

Bibliography

• Grazulis, Thomas (1993), Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events, St. Johnsbury, Vermont: Environmental Films, ISBN 1-879362-03-1
• Seely, Mark W. (2006), Minnesota Weather Almanac (1st ed.), Minnesota Historical Society Press, ISBN 0-87351-554-4

External links

• Minnesota Tornado History and Statistics
• Gendisasters.com