Minnesota tornado
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Multiple farmsteads are damaged, one was killed, and two were injured after a large tornado touched down in northwest Minnesota on Wednesday.

The tornado hit near Dalton, Minnesota in southeastern Otter Tail County. The tornado was spotted between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said it moved mostly to open farmland, however, three farmsteads had huge damage.

One of the three farmsteads was flattened.

NWS said there were no vehicles affected when the tornado crossed Interstate 94.

NWS meteorologist Vince Godon said the tornado had winds of 136-165 miles per hour (mph).

Ashby Mayor Tom Growe said the tornado was "pretty destructive."

Tornado Captured on Cam

Alissa Wilbur and Paige Fode captured the tornado on their cell phones when they were driving from the Twin Cities.

They got a severe thunderstorm warning on their cellphones.

Wilbur and Fode prepared for a storm, but they were not when they saw the tornado heading their way.

"It was definitely an experience, very scary," Wilbur was quoted in a report.

Wilbur was thankful it changed directions before it hit them and went into the fields.

JoAnn Beardsley also captured the tornado on her camera cellphone.

Beardsley was with her grandkids and enjoying a day at Pelican Laken when the tornado happened.

"We were swimming and I saw what looked like it was coming out of the clouds and then a funnel formed inside," was quoted in a report.

She said she got out of the area before the tornado got too big and recorded the tornado from her Ashby farm.

"I figured it had to be a pretty monstrous tornado because I'm probably at least three, four miles from where it would drop down," Beardsley was quoted.

When Do Tornadoes Usually Happen?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) said tornadoes can happen any time of the year but there are distinct seasons for different parts of the country.

The peak tornado season for southern areas like Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas is from May to early June.

Tornado season for northern plains and upper Midwest areas like North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota is around June or July.

Most tornadoes happen between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Around 1,200 tornadoes happen in the United States every year.

Other places with the highest tornado happening are Argentina and Bangladesh.

How to Prepare For a Tornado

Tornadoes can do huge damages. The 2019 tornado season killed 41 individuals and injured hundreds.

Around 71-percent of those victims were in a mobile home or trailer park during the tornado. Over $7.1 billion was the recorded damage.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) said there is no sure way to stay safe during a tornado. But it pays to be prepared.

Prepare an emergency kit with water, non-perishable food, and medication. Add fresh batteries and a battery-operated TV, radio for weather information.

Make an emergency plan with access to a safe space for you and your family. List of important telephone numbers.

Always be aware of weather conditions. Go to low-lying areas or safe spaces during a tornado.

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