Severe thunderstorms blasted across northwest Minnesota on Monday night, bringing reports of golf-ball-size hail, damaging straight-line winds and a tornado that touched down near Detroit Lakes. Spotters and road crews described snapped trees, roofs ripped from small outbuildings and scattered power outages across rural Becker County. The storm line marched southeast through the night, and forecasters said the Twin Cities were in for mainly a soaking rain rather than the worst of the severe punch.
Confirmed tornado near Rochert
The National Weather Service office in Grand Forks issued a Tornado Warning at about 8:01 p.m. CDT after spotters confirmed “a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado” over Rochert, roughly near Detroit Lakes, moving east at about 40 mph. The warning called out Toad Lake, Height Of Land Lake, Osage, Wolf Lake, Rochert, Evergreen and Midway among the communities in the path, according to the National Weather Service in Grand Forks.
Hail and damaging winds
FOX 9 meteorologists and viewers shared photos of golf-ball-size hail in several communities as the storms pushed southeast, and station coverage noted that forecasters were tracking cells capable of serious damage. As reported by FOX 9, the system produced very strong wind gusts in spots. Storm reports compiled by the Storm Prediction Center and reposted by New Milford CT Weather show measured gusts into the mid-60s (mph) and multiple short tornado damage reports in Becker County.
Track and outlook
Forecasters said the line tracked from northwest to southeast across the state, with the greatest threats concentrated in northwest Minnesota on Monday night. Outlooks and watch products from the National Weather Service covered much of the region and highlighted the potential for large hail and damaging wind gusts, according to the National Weather Service hazardous weather outlook.
Damage reports and response
Storm reports and spotter logs listed multiple short-track tornado reports in Becker County, including snapped trees, roofs blown off outbuildings and power poles down, while MNDOT and local crews were reported clearing debris from roadways. Officials and meteorologists continued to remind residents to take warnings seriously, head for sturdy shelter during tornado or severe thunderstorm warnings and report damage to local authorities as assessments and repairs move forward, according to New Milford CT Weather and FOX 9.
