80 MPH Wind Gust Near Rochester & Tornadoes Reported to the West
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) The severe storms that moved across southeastern Minnesota in the late afternoon and early Saturday evening produced two reports of possible tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds.
The National Weather Service is reporting a confirmed tornado in the Kenyon area in Goodhue County. At the time of the spotting of the twister, it was headed toward northwest Dodge County but was weakening.
The other tornado was reported by the National Weather Service near Medford, just north of Owatonna. A trained spotter reported the tornado at 5 PM about 6 miles northeast of Medford.
There are also reports of damaging winds from the storm. A wind gust of 81 mph was reported about 3 miles north of Stewartville near the Rochester Airport, while a gust of 46 mph was reported near Dodge Center, where downed power poles were also reported.
The National Weather Service also received a report of a wind gust of 58 mph in Kellogg just south of Wabasha. That was from a thunderstorm cell that moved along the Mississippi River earlier in the afternoon.
Damaging hail was also reported along and near the Mississippi River. The National Weather Service received a report of two inch hail just south of Rollingstone and there was a report of 1.25 inch diameter hail in Minnesota City.
The largest hail was reported in areas just north of the possible tornado spotted near Medford. Just after 5 PM the National Weather Service received a report of 3.5" diameter hail near Nerstrand and 1.7 inch hail a couple miles from that location.
The National Weather Service says severe storms will remain a possibility all the way through Monday as the hot and humid air covering the region provides the fuel needed for the formation of strong storms. The highest risk each day will be between noon and 6 PM.
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Gallery Credit: Ben Davis
