Weather and Climate News

Tornado touches down in Isanti County; 40,000 without power due to storm

Storm damage-1
Damage after a storm passed through Isanti, Minn., on Thursday.
Mandy Thalhuber | MPR News

Law enforcement confirmed that a tornado touched down and then lifted east of Isanti near North Branch in Isanti County as part of a storm that swept across Minnesota late Thursday afternoon, and spotters confirmed a rain-wrapped tornado near Baldwin, Wisconsin around 6:20 p.m.

Storm damage common with tornadoes was also reported near Cambridge, with trees snapped near County Road 5 and Durant.

Large trees were also reported down in Bethel, Anoka County, and tree damage was reported in Anoka, Ramsey, Maple Grove, Victoria and Chanhassen.

The most recent storm knocked out power again across Minnesota, mostly in the Twin Cities area. Xcel Energy said about 35,000 customers were without power in the state as of about 6:45 p.m. That erases some of the progress they made restoring power after Monday night's storms, which knocked out power for about 150,000 customers.

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities also warned people at the Minnesota State Fair to take cover from 3:50 to 4:30 p.m. as the storm was expected to produce gusts up to 60 mph.

Follow watches, warnings and radar at mprnews.org/weather.

A tree fallen beside a house-1
A tree fell beside a house following a storm on Thursday on Mississippi River Boulevard in St. Paul.
Kerem Yücel | MPR News

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.