Heavy Rain & Strong Storms Move Across MN, Leave Damage
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Heavy rain and strong storms are racing across Minnesota Thursday morning – producing flash flooding and some wind damage.
Earlier Thursday, wind gusts as strong as 78 mph were reported near the Brainerd lake, where there are several reports of tree damage. There were also reports of downed power lines and power outages.
In the southwest near Redwood Falls, storms produced wind gusts of 50-60 mph.
"Incredibly strong winds with these storms, but also torrential downpours," said WCCO-TV meteorologist Matt Brickman. "Flash flooding is a possibility as well, especially as that rain enters the metro and you're running into more areas that are concrete or pavement that just can't soak up the rain. That's where you get that ponding that you never want to try to drive through because there's no telling how deep the water is.
Initial rainfall reports have been impressive, with towns like Coon Rapids and St. Michael picking up over an inch of rain in less than one hour.
"It's going to be a slow go this morning," Brickman said.
Behind the storms, there's good news: cooler and drier air will be moving in. By the afternoon, things are expected to calm down with clear skies and less humidity.
Storms Leave Damage
BRAINERD, Minn. (AP) — Severe thunderstorms that pushed through parts of Minnesota closed roads, cut power, delayed a county fair opening and toppled a huge Babe the Blue Ox statue at Paul Bunyan Land.
Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl says emergency crews are working to open roads closed by falling trees and branches and restore power.
The Crow Wing County Fair organizers delayed Thursday's opening until the afternoon because the fairgrounds sustained damage. At Paul Bunyan Land at This Old Farm near Brainerd, strong winds pushed over a 6,000-pound, 19-foot-tall statue of Babe the Blue Ox.
One of the park's owners, Lois Moon, says Babe hasn't moved in inch in 13 years — until now.
Xcel Energy says about 5,000 people in the Twin Cities and to the west are without power.
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