It was 25 years ago today that more than a dozen tornadoes touched down in Southern Minnesota. The 1998 Comfrey–St. Peter tornado outbreak was an unseasonably-strong outbreak that affected the Upper Midwest. A strong area of low pressure combined with a warm front and favorable upper-level dynamics produced 16 tornadoes across the region, 14 in Minnesota and two in Wisconsin.
WCCO Radio Chief Meteorologist Paul Douglas says it's a good reminder for all of us as we head into severe weather season.
"Every year I worry about amnesia. You know, if we don't have a big tornado, your people shrug and hey, you know, says a tornado warning, not sure I need to take it seriously. We get a lot of tornado warnings and I never see a tornado. So I'm just gonna keep sitting on the couch watching Netflix."
Douglas reminds us that the upper midwest is still a target for tornados during the spring and summer seasons.
"I mention to people that we don't live in tornado alley. Tornado alley starts in Iowa. But we do live in tornado cul-de-sac. We get our fair share of tornados."
Paul says tornadoes will not be a problem for the next several days but there is a chance of more snow.