It was 135 years ago on April 14th, 1886 that a devastating tornado ripped through Central Minnesota, leaving Sauk Rapids devastated, killing 72 people. The earliest report of a tornado in Minnesota came just four years ago, when a tornado hit the Zimmerman area on March 6th, 2017. Tornado Basics A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. Tornadoes are capable of completely destroying well-made structures, uprooting trees, and hurling objects through the air like deadly missiles. Tornadoes can occur at any time of day or night, at any time of the year, and in all 50 states.