Heavy storms down Babe the Blue Ox
Ox-sized severe thunderstorms downed a Minnesota icon overnight.
Overnight thunderstorms crossed northern Minnesota and maintained intensity rolling into the Twin Cities this morning.
Latest Twin Cities radar loop
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The storms pack heavy downpours and gusty winds. Scattered tree damage has been reported once again in northern and central Minnesota. A wind gust of 78 mph was recorded at Brainerd International Airport.
1 S Brainerd [Crow Wing Co, MN] PUBLIC reports TSTM WND DMG at 3:12 AM CDT -- SEVERAL TREES DOWN AND TIN ROOF SHEETING SCATTERED ON ROAD NEAR SOUTHEAST 13TH STREET IN BRAINERD NEAR THE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. THE TIME OF OCCURRENCE WAS ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
3 WNW Woodrow [Crow Wing Co, MN] ASOS reports TSTM WND GST of M78 MPH at 3:22 AM CDT -- AT BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
Hutchinson [Mcleod Co, MN] STORM CHASER reports TSTM WND DMG at 7:15 AM CDT -- SMALL TO LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN ALL OVER TOWN. SEVERAL MODERATE TO LARGE TREES DOWN AS WELL. SEMI-TRAILER BLOWN OVER JUST SOUTH OF TOWN. ONE AND ONE HALF INCH TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN FELL. REPORTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Heavy rains also affected commuters in the Twin Cities this morning.
Slight risk again this afternoon
The cool front lags today near the Twin Cities. A second wave of storms should fire along the front this afternoon and move into southeast Minnesota this evening. There is a slight risk of severe storms from east of Duluth into the Twin Cities then east and south.
NOAA's NAM 4 km model pains the developing line of storms this afternoon near the Twin Cities before it races southeast.
Keep an eye out for possible watches and warnings again this afternoon.
