Skip to main content

Boreal Community Media

Video: Storm chaser's close encounter with deadly Minnesota tornado

Jul 09, 2020 07:05AM ● By Editor

Watch the video from KMSP-TV here

The long-lived tornado in this video tracked through fields near Dalton and Ashby, Minnesota. I followed the tornado from the moment it touched down until it roped out. My chase partner and I called in reports to the National Weather Service when the first funnel formed. Credit: Melanie Metz via Storyful

From KMSP-TV - July 9, 2020


Storm chaser Melanie Metz captured some incredibly close-up footage of the tornado near Ashby and Dalton, Minnesota from her vehicle.

"I can smell it," Metz can be heard saying at the start of the video, showing a tornado on the ground, swirling with debris.

A spokeswoman with the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office confirmed one person has died due to the tornado near Ashby. Tornadoes touched down near Ashby and Garrison during a tornado warning in parts of central Minnesota Wednesday evening.

According to reports on the ground, the tornado damaged crops and destroyed four residences, Ashby Mayor Tom Grover says. 

“The long-lived tornado in this video tracked through fields near Dalton and Ashby, Minnesota. I followed the tornado from the moment it touched down until it roped out,” Metz said. “My chase partner and I called in reports to the National Weather Service when the first funnel formed. This allowed the NWS to issue a tornado warning very quickly. Unfortunately, there was some damage to property and one fatality.” 


To see the original story and read related articles, follow this link to the KMSP-TV website.  https://www.fox9.com/weather/storm-chasers-close-encounter-with-deadly-minnesota-tornado
Boreal Ship Spotter - larger view here