Minnesota Weather: At Least One Tornado Touches Down During Southern Minn. Storm
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- At least one apparent tornado touched down in Minnesota Tuesday night in a line of severe storms moving across the state.
The system brought large hail and strong winds that downed trees and power lines south of the Twin Cities.
A trio of tornadoes, most likely from the same parent cell, touched down in Blue Earth and Waseca counties. National Weather Service trackers will be on the ground Wednesday morning to assess the damage.
Here is a timeline of the night's events as they happened:
7:50 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Fillmore, Houston and Winona counties in Minnesota until 9:30 p.m.
7:50 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for Fillmore and Olmsted counties in Minnesota until 8:45 p.m.
7:35 p.m. WCCO Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says severe weather is still very possible for several southern Minnesota counties for the next several hours.
7:26 p.m. WCCO Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says there is an radar-indicated tornado in Mower County.
6:57 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Mower County in Minnesota until 8:15 p.m.
6:44 p.m. WCCO Meteorologist Chris Shaffer says large hail is coming down around I-35 between Ellendale and Albert Lea.
6:40 p.m. WCCO Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says strong winds are rolling through Albert Lea.
6:33 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Houston and Winona counties until 7:15 p.m., and Faribault and Freeborn Counties in until 7:30 p.m.
6:32 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Dodge, Mower and Olmsted Counties in Minnesota until 8 p.m.
6:25 p.m. WCCO Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says the tornado warning is now cancelled in Waseca County, but the threat of huge hail and severe thunderstorms remain.
6:20 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Faribault and Martin counties in Minnesota until 7:15 p.m.
6:19 p.m. WCCO Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says the storm system transformed fast in Blue Earth and Waseca counties.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Faribault, Freeborn, Steele and Waseca Counties in Minnesota until 7 p.m.
6:15 p.m. Waseca County is still getting roughed up by this storm system.
6:11 p.m. WCCO Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says the threat of large hail looms across southeastern Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin.
6:08 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Winona County in Minnesota and Buffalo County in Wisconsin until 6:30 p.m.
6:03 p.m. The Tornado Warning has been cancelled in Blue Earth County, but it is still in effect in Waseca County.
Localized flooding is a possibility in parts of the Twin Cities metro area.
5:59 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for for Winona County in Minnesota until 6:45 p.m.
5:50 p.m. The tornado threat is still very strong in Blue Earth and Waseca counties, and severe thunderstorms still threaten several southern Minnesota counties.
Ann Gacek sent WCCO this impressive shot from Maple Grove.
5:43 p.m. A new Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Blue Earth, Faribault, Martin and Watonwan counties in Minnesota until 6:30 p.m.
5:40 p.m.: A new Tornado Warning has been issued for Blue Earth and Waseca counties in Minnesota until 6:30 p.m.
5:37 p.m. WCCO Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak warns again of the threat this storm system poses to George Floyd protesters.
5:35 p.m.: The National Weather Service confirms that the system in and around Blue Earth County is producing "gustnadoes" from all the dust being kicked up into the atmosphere.
Large hail is also being reported in parts of southern Minneosta.
5:30 p.m. WCCO Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says mid-level rotation continues to pose a tornado threat in Blue Earth County.
5:19 pm.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Winona County in Minnesota and Buffalo County in Wisconsin until 6 p.m.
5:15 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Blue Earth, Martin and Watonwan counties in Minnesota until 5:45 p.m.
5:11 p.m.: A Tornado Warning has been issued for Blue Earth County until 5:45 p.m. Residents are advised to take cover immediately.
5:08 p.m.: WCCO Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says strong mid-level rotation is occurring in Blue Earth and Nicollet counties.
A "gustnado" was just spotted in Blue Earth County. This is not an actual tornado.
5:03 p.m.: Hail the size of golf balls and even baseballs are possible for some southern Minnesota towns right now.
4:50 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued fir Blue Earth and Nicollet counties in Minnesota until 5:15 p.m.
WCCO Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak gave a couple warnings to Twin Cities residents and those protesting the death of George Floyd.
4:38 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for several southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin counties until midnight.
4:30 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Blue Earth, Brown and Nicollet counties in Minnesota until 5 p.m.
