MINNEAPOLIS — A storm system that moved across Minnesota Wednesday launched tornado and funnel cloud reports, hail as large as tennis balls, and high winds, leaving tens of thousands without power for extended periods.
Xcel Energy customers in Minnesota reported power outages affecting more than 40,000 people at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday. By 8 a.m. Thursday that number had dwindled to just under 8,000 people in the state, most of them in the Twin Cities metro.
The National Weather Service (NWS) declared severe thunderstorm watches in a handful of major metro counties including Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington, until midnight.
The storm triggered powerful wind gusts that ripped large trees from the ground and broke off significant branches in the community of Shoreview. The sounds of chainsaws will be impossible to miss Thursday as professional crews and homeowners attempt to clean up the damage.
YOUR PHOTOS: Storms sweep across Minnesota, Wisconsin July 19
NWS received a report of a tornado briefly touching down northeast of Tenstrike, Minnesota in Beltrami County Wednesday afternoon. East of the metro, a tornado warning was issued in Wisconsin's Barron and Rusk Counties with reports of funnel clouds near Barron and Siren, Wisconsin. Huge hail was seen both in north central Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
In Rice Lake, Wisconsin, hail came so hard that it shattered a skylight on the roof of the local Walmart. One customer shot video of the scene, as frozen ice rained from the ceiling of the store onto shelves and merchandise below.
In central Minnesota's Carlton County, a statement from the sheriff's office claimed a barn was struck by lightning, causing it to catch fire.
There were no reported injuries to people or animals as a result, but the barn was considered a total loss.
Meanwhile, in downtown Minneapolis, parade-watchers waited about an hour for the annual Aquatennial Torchlight Parade to get going.
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