ST CROIX FALLS, Wis. — Officials confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down Tuesday night near St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, causing damage to several homes and farms along a five-mile path.
According to the National Weather Service, the twister touched down at 9:13 p.m. and remained on the ground until 9:20 p.m. Hundreds of trees were also broken or uprooted as wind speeds reached about 90 mph with a maximum width of about 100 yards. Prior to the tornado touching down, the NWS confirmed downburst damage between Osceola, Wisconsin and Dresser, Wisconsin.
While massive flooding continues to be the biggest challenge following Tuesday's storms, the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office also confirmed a tornado touched down about 40 miles north of Duluth in the community of Cotton. No damage has been reported as a result of the twister, however, a local state of disaster was declared in the county as a result of the flooding.
The St. Louis County Board unanimously approved the disaster declaration Thursday to allow the emergency management department the opportunity to seek emergency funding from the federal government and state of Minnesota.
Board Chair Keith Nelson said he and other commissioners have already spoken with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and said he was told emergency funding "could flow pretty quickly." He said it is the worst disaster the county has seen since 2012, with estimates of damage already reaching the $50 million mark.
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