Severe storms cause damage, knock out power to thousands across Minnesota

Updated: 1:45 p.m.

Severe storms late Tuesday and early Wednesday produced winds in excess of 75 mph across a swath of western and central Minnesota, downing trees and power lines.

Xcel Energy, Otter Tail Power and other Minnesota utilities reported several thousand homes and businesses remained without power across the state as of early Wednesday afternoon — a growing concern, with temperatures forecast to climb into the 90s both Wednesday and Thursday.

The National Weather Service said a survey of storm damage on Wednesday confirmed straight-line winds estimated at 75 to 85 mph in parts of Kandiyohi County.

The Weather Service received reports of large trees and power poles snapped in New London, Minn. as a line of storms — a “bow echo” on radar — passed through about 11 p.m. Tuesday. There also were reports of pontoon boats flipped over.

“We have reported multiple power lines down with some partially blocking the road,” the New London Fire Department reported in a Facebook post early Wednesday. “Ongoing cleanup will resume in the morning. If at all possible please avoid any unnecessary travel.”

In an update posted mid-morning Wednesday, fire officials in New London urged people to conserve water due to ongoing power outages in the community. They said anyone in New London who needs a cool place to stay while the power is out can contact the fire hall for assistance.

Wind gusts of 70 to 80 mph were reported near Belgrade around 11 p.m. Tuesday.

The Belgrade/Brooten Police Department reported that public works and fire crews were out clearing storm debris from streets in Brooten on Wednesday morning. The department reported damage to power poles and lines in the city, and asked that anyone not involved in cleanup work stay out of the area.

Power was knocked out in Chokio, Minn. as storms passed through and knocked down trees around 10 p.m. Tuesday. In Morris, Minn., law enforcement officials reported trees down and power out, and a window blown out of an apartment building. Officials said the campground at the city’s Pomme de Terre Park would be closed until at least Monday due to storm damage.

The storms weakened a bit as they rolled through the Twin Cities after midnight, but still brought winds that gusted in excess of 50 mph at the Crystal and downtown St. Paul airports, and downed some trees and branches in the metro area.

The storms also produced lots of lightning, and brought welcome rain to parts of the state that have been entrenched in drought conditions all summer — as much as 4.4 inches, reported by a weather spotter near Glenwood from several rounds of storms overnight.

Much of the Twin Cities metro area saw 1- to 2-inch rain totals. But some areas in extreme drought, from Anoka County north to Mille Lacs Lake, largely missed out on this round of precipitation.

Storms continued to move across the state early Wednesday before exiting the southeast corner of Minnesota around mid-morning. Once the clouds cleared, temperatures started rising.

A heat advisory remains in effect until Thursday evening from the Twin Cities south and west to Mankato, Willmar and Marshall, Minn. The heat index may reach 100 degrees Wednesday and Thursday afternoon in the advisory area.

And with that hot weather comes ozone pollution — an air quality alert also remains in effect until Thursday evening for the Twin Cities.

Find forecast updates on MPR Weather’s Updraft blog.

• Spotty rain and thunder into Thursday evening
• Fall weather on its way, just in time for the autumnal equinox
• Scattered rain and thunder, slight severe risk