Severe weather outbreak produces 16 tornadoes across the Midwest
A severe weather outbreak across the U.S. Midwest on June 16, 2025, produced 16 confirmed tornadoes, including 14 in Minnesota, along with damaging winds and large hail.
A massive tornado spinning near Dickens, Nebraska, on Monday, June 16, 2025. Credit: Lincoln County Sheriff's Office
A mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) centered over the northern Plains generated a widespread severe weather outbreak across the U.S. Midwest on June 16. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) confirmed a total of 16 tornadoes, with 14 in Minnesota, one in eastern Wisconsin, and one in northern Michigan.
The Minnesota tornadoes occurred within a five-hour window, from 14:40 to 19:40 UTC, affecting counties including Crow Wing, Wright, Nicollet, Scott, and Hennepin. Storm cells exhibited high reflectivity and strong rotation signatures, with multiple tornado warnings issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) Twin Cities and La Crosse offices.
Radar-confirmed debris signatures and video evidence confirmed touchdowns near Nisswa, East Gull Lake, Hutchinson, and Chaska. Multiple short-lived tornadoes were embedded within linear convective structures and cyclic supercells.
It's ok to get lost in the raw, untamed dance of tornadoes—nature's fierce masterpiece spiraling through the sky.
— Vince Waelti (@VinceWaelti) June 17, 2025
There's something humbling, almost sacred, about witnessing such power in person. It pulls you into the moment, reminds you how small we are, yet how alive we feel… pic.twitter.com/bhbv4p1u8U
The severe weather threat extended into north-central Nebraska, where scattered supercells coalesced into a squall line, particularly around sunset, according to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC). Radar data and local sources confirm at least one tornado touchdown north of Dickens, Nebraska, captured on video near Lincoln County.
The storm complex delivered not only tornadic activity but also hail up to half‑dollar size and wind gusts exceeding 113 km/h (70 mph) along the squall line.
Severe weather persisted in the vicinity on June 17, as the outflow from Nebraska storms and an advancing cold front triggered additional thunderstorms across the central Plains. Although further tornado confirmations for Nebraska during that timeframe are not yet in SPC logs, the environment remained conducive to supercells and embedded tornadoes, supported by ongoing Tornado Watches and local NWS alerts.
An additional tornado was confirmed in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, around 20:05 UTC, and one in Otsego County, Michigan, near Gaylord, at 20:20 EDT. Both produced minor structural or tree damage.
Local reports and real-time radar data indicate that up to 14 additional tornadoes likely occurred across central and southern Minnesota. These unconfirmed tornadoes were reported near Blue Earth, Waconia, Le Sueur, Nicollet, and Scott Counties. The NWS continues to assess storm surveys in these areas.
Severe hail accompanied the tornadic storms, with diameters reaching up to 7 cm (2.75 inches) in Crow Wing and Meeker Counties. Wind gusts measured up to 115 km/h (71 mph) caused treefall, powerline disruption, and scattered structural damage.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported structural damage to agricultural buildings in Meeker County and partial roof loss in rural zones west of the Twin Cities. There were no confirmed fatalities as of June 17, and only minor injuries were reported. Xcel Energy confirmed power outages affecting over 7 500 customers at peak outage time.
The best 360 @insta360 reframe Timelapse known to man. Captures the full lifecycle of the Wallace/Wallfleet Nebraska tornado. 77 minutes of mind blowing footage condensed down to 1 minute. Streamed LIVE on the @RadarOmega app. pic.twitter.com/QBt07Tu8Nk
— Aaron Jayjack (@aaronjayjack) June 17, 2025
The Storm Prediction Center had issued a Moderate Risk (Level 3/5) for portions of Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin on June 16. Tornado Watches were active from 13:45 UTC onward, with multiple Tornado Warnings issued between 14:00 and 20:00 UTC. The NWS Twin Cities described the event as “a rapid cyclic tornadic regime embedded in a destabilized, helicity-rich environment.”
The convective complex continued eastward overnight, with a Level 3 risk maintained on June 17 over eastern Kansas, northern Missouri, and central Iowa. Additional tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds remain possible through June 18 over the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.
Reet is a science journalist and researcher with a keen focus on extreme weather, space phenomena, and climate-related issues. With a strong foundation in astronomy and a history of environmental activism, she approaches every story with a sharp scientific lens and a deep sense of purpose. Driven by a lifelong love for writing, and a curiosity about the universe, Reet brings urgency and insight to some of the most important scientific developments of our time.
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