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The National Weather Service says an EF-1 tornado touched down in Carver County early Saturday morning during a loud and windy night of severe weather throughout the Twin Cities metro. The tornado caused extensive damage to trees and homes in Watertown and neighboring Hollywood Township.
A chorus of chainsaws and generator moans defines Jack Smith's Brainerd backyard. "I know the first place you go is to Fleet Farm, get a generator and try to get back in business," Smith said.
Gov. Mark Dayton and U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan will travel to the Brainerd Lakes area on Friday to tour storm damage. Dayton and Nolan also plan to meet with resort owners, emergency managers, local officials, residents and volunteers.
Parts of a Brainerd-area resort badly damaged by Sunday's severe storms are re-opening.
Storm cleanup continues in northern Minnesota during the height of vacation season. Some of the state's most popular resorts and campgrounds have shut down, causing many vacationers to make new plans.
Check out these viewer-submitted photos of storm damage from Sept. 3 and Sept. 4.
Residents of New Brighton are waiting to find out how a broken sewer near Long Lake will affect their homes. Monday's severe winds toppled a tree that uprooted the top of a sewer line just off 16th Terrace Avenue.
The storms that moved through the metro area Monday night were quick, but they caused a lot of damage in some areas. In New Brighton, winds up to 50 miles per hour blew through. Trees were uprooted, leaving a large hole in the ground.
Residents in parts of northern Minnesota are cleaning up Tuesday after severe storms swept through the area late Monday night. The Aitkin County Sheriff's Office said that the area of McGregor was hit hard, particularly the Eagle Point Camp Ground on Big Sandy Lake.
Tim Murphy has seen his share of Minnesota spring storms over the years. But he says the one that rolled through this uppertown St. Paul neighborhood Saturday afternoon was a little different. "This was a shorter storm and it was more violent in a chunkated amount of time," Murphy said.
A tree fell onto a homeowner's garage in Richfield, Minn. Saturday afternoon due to strong winds. The house was located around 67th Street and Clinton Avenue South. Power lines were also downed in that area, knocking out power.
We're seeing the effects of all that rainfall in several spots around the metro. Strong winds and soggy ground were too much for the trees at a mobile home park in Princeton. More than a dozen huge trees fell, damaging homes and cars.
While Thursday's tornadoes stayed south, parts of the Twin Cities did suffer wind damage. Employees cleaned up the mess outside of the Lakeville Walmart. Carl Cannon says shoppers started screaming as debris flew in the store.
Move over, Florida. New numbers show that Minnesota could finish first when it comes to disaster insurance claims. Last year, Minnesota generated nearly $800 million in claims, and that's only through the third quarter. If you're wondering why your premium is going through the roof, you can blame what's falling on your roof. Hail from storms on Aug. 6 damaged roofs, windows and siding all over the south metro.
On Monday, Governor Mark Dayton signed an emergency bill into law, sending disaster aid to Minnesota counties hit hard by a week of severe summer storms in June. Eighteen Minnesota counties - including the largest, Hennepin County - were hit by high winds, torrential rains and widespread flooding during the five days of storms. Damage was heavy in the southeastern part of the state, where lawmakers - including Republican Rep. Greg Davids of Preston - thanked Minnesotans for their help.
A joint House-Senate committee is beginning the work of developing a storm disaster aid package that Minnesota lawmakers will consider in an emergency session next month. A working group for the Legislature was convening Wednesday night.
Gov. Mark Dayton is meeting with the Legislature's four top leaders as they try to agree on whether to hold a special session. Dayton and the lawmakers plan to meet Friday afternoon in the governor's office.
The largest utility serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin says it deployed more than 1,000 line workers to restore power to customers in the Twin Cities and other areas after three waves of strong storms hit the region. Xcel Energy's system was severely damaged by high winds that brought trees and branches down onto power lines before dawn Friday and on Friday evening and early Saturday. More than 500,000 of the utility's customers in Minnesota and western Wisconsin were affected at the height of the power outages
Communities across the Twin Cities are cleaning up trees and branches knocked down by three waves of heavy storms since early Friday. Minneapolis has announced plans for debris collection beginning July 1 to help people get rid of the downed wood in their yards. St. Paul plans a similar curbside pickup within the next three weeks.
It was a stressful morning for patients and staff at NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center in North Minneapolis. NorthPoint CEO Stella Whitney-West says a call to the utility company proved futile. "We immediately tried to call in to Xcel," Whitney-West said. "Of course, we couldn't get through." But the phone calls didn't stop there.
The tornado that touched down Saturday night in Burnsville was on the lowest end on the EF scale, but the damage was quite considerable.
Crews are working to clear the main streets in Rochester after a powerful storm swept through, knocked down trees, scattered debris and ignited a house fire.
Top Minnesota lawmakers say they are putting aside politics to deal with severe flooding in northern Minnesota.
Officials in Beltrami County are looking for volunteers to help with storm damage, as the area continues to deal with the aftermath of its early July storms.
An auto body shop in Waverly, Minnesota has been deemed a total loss after a fire broke out on Christmas Day.
![Holiday skating at the John Rose Oval Tuesday December 12, 2018 in Roseville, MN.] Jerry Holt • Jerry.holt@startribune.com](https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/12/26/85f05540-792f-4701-b199-faa1612213ab/thumbnail/640x360/d33c330322de386170c855b5f7821ac4/gettyimages-1156602751.jpg?v=fa9977353833f46f40b07abcd9d5240b#)
This week has been warm, which isn't great for winter activities, but skaters and hockey players have been able to enjoy a refrigerated outdoor ice rink in Roseville.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says it identified a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A, or H5N1, in Burnett County.
Minnesotans don't have to drive far to visit two of the best bakeries in America, according to the New York Times.
Coach Dan Campbell said Thursday that the team signed Bridgewater as another backup with second-year player Hendon Hooker behind starter Jared Goff.
This week has been warm, which isn't great for winter activities, but skaters and hockey players have been able to enjoy a refrigerated outdoor ice rink in Roseville.
Minnesotans don't have to drive far to visit two of the best bakeries in America, according to the New York Times.
In 2024, Minnesota was a hotbed of SPAM smuggling, golf-related helicopter attacks and genetically modified giant-sheep hunting.
The current annual average temperature is 50.7 degrees — just shy of the record 50.8 average set in 2012 and 1931.
Until 2018, for more than five decades, drivers on Highway 10 got glimpses of the 30-foot statue standing high above the city of Mounds View. Seven years later, it's out of storage.
An auto body shop in Waverly, Minnesota has been deemed a total loss after a fire broke out on Christmas Day.
Minnesotans don't have to drive far to visit two of the best bakeries in America, according to the New York Times.
In 2024, Minnesota was a hotbed of SPAM smuggling, golf-related helicopter attacks and genetically modified giant-sheep hunting.
Mary Murphy, the longest-serving woman and second-longest-serving member of the Minnesota House, died on Christmas Day at the age of 85, according to Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman.
A northern Minnesota woman is being praised for rescuing not one, but two owls in the same day and in two different locations.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says it identified a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A, or H5N1, in Burnett County.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has finally selected a new leader for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The Centers for Disease Control says no person-to-person transmission has been detected and the risk to the general public remains low.
The man was flown to a hospital in Minnesota, but the department gave no word on his condition. No one else was hurt.
Xcel says the project is intended to replace the energy that will be lost when its coal-fueled power plant near Stillwater closes in 2028.
Volunteers at St. Paul's Union Gospel Mission served up hundreds of Christmas Day meals during a free lunch on Wednesday.
The Salvation Army says it's a proven fact that donations decline when the bells aren't ringing. Fewer volunteers mean fewer rings and fewer dollars raised.
Dan Reed is on a campaign to get more people to become donors. The more people he can register, the higher up he gets on the transplant list.
Army veteran Delphine Littlewolf and her 7-year-old son Curtis have been living in her compact car for six months.
It looks like any other grocery store, but when you check out at Today's Harvest in Maplewood, shoppers aren't spending a dime.
Here's what to know about the United States' involvement with building and operating the Panama Canal.
Mary Murphy, the longest-serving woman and second-longest-serving member of the Minnesota House, died on Christmas Day at the age of 85, according to Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman.
President Biden signed legislation Christmas Eve to make the bald eagle officially the U.S. national bird.
Jason Rantala looks at the changes several Twin Cities restaurants are making in response to a new Minnesota law taking effect on New Year’s Day.
Former President Bill Clinton remains in "good spirits," a spokesman said.
Leftovers are in the fridge and the presents under the tree are unwrapped. But what if Santa didn't get your wish list just right?
The Mega Millions jackpot is valued at $1 billion for the drawing on Christmas Eve
The rush was on Tuesday as shoppers grabbed last-minute essentials at Mall of America, just hours before Christmas Day.
Twin Cities Starbucks baristas joined a nationwide strike Tuesday afternoon.
Most grocery stores will be open on Christmas Eve but will have reduced hours.
St. Paul police say narcotics may have played a role in the death of a toddler on Christmas Day.
Agents found 30 brick-like packages of cocaine inside the backpacks, located in a wooded area in Washington near the U.S. border with Canada.
An 18-year-old man is facing a second-degree murder charge after a fatal shooting in Mankato Saturday.
The appeal had asked the court to reinstate charges, including involuntary manslaughter, against Alec Baldwin.
A 40-year-old Sartell woman has pleaded guilty in connection with a fraud scheme that cost two loan companies over $9 million.
Minnesota health officials are warning of an outbreak of a highly contagious illness: norovirus.
According to the Minnesota Department of Education, only 46.5% of third graders in the state are reading proficiently.
Health experts are offering tips on creating a more nutritious diet as new year's resolutions are put into action.
Mental health is a topic that some might feel uncomfortable talking about. In St. Louis Park there's one event trying to change that.
Minneapolis has softened an ordinance that prohibited obstructing entrances and driveways to abortion clinics after anti-abortion activists sued to challenge it on free-speech grounds.
Going to the movies has become a Christmas Day tradition for some Minnesotans.
Netflix will have one of its biggest days Wednesday since the site launched in 1998 when it airs two NFL games for the first time.
The appeal had asked the court to reinstate charges, including involuntary manslaughter, against Alec Baldwin.
The lawsuit lays out Blake Lively's allegations against Justin Baldoni during their time working on "It Ends with Us."
Holidazzle is a free event with lights, stage performances, Santa, nearly 200 vendors and more. It runs Wednesday through Sunday.
Watch an unforgettable moment during an Alexandria football game that brought the crowd to tears. Plus, a tough battle in boy’s basketball between Rockford and Zimmerman.
Coach Dan Campbell said Thursday that the team signed Bridgewater as another backup with second-year player Hendon Hooker behind starter Jared Goff.
The Minnesota Vikings will look to keep the NFL's longest active winning streak alive on Sunday when they host the Green Bay Packers.
Anthony Edwards scored 26 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held on for a 105-99 Christmas Day victory over Dallas after Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic left the game with a strained left calf.
From deep playoff runs to disappointing seasons and superstar contracts to broken business deals, it's been a noisy, chaotic and occasionally celebratory year for Minnesota sports.
Esme Murphy talks with Congressman Pete Stauber, who hopes to see President Biden’s 20-year moratorium on new mining near the Boundary Waters reversed by President-elect Donald Trump.
President-elect Donald Trump said he plans to reverse President Biden's 20-year moratorium on new mining near Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on his first day in office.
In this election, Klobuchar faired much better than all other Senate Democrats — she won by a significantly larger margin.
For Democrats the postmortem continues on why Vice President Kamala Harris and her Running mate Governor Tim Walz performed more poorly with almost every demographic than Joe Biden did in 2020. In Minnesota, Senator Amy Klobuchar did much better than Harris with some of those same groups.
As Election Day nears, experts say voters in Wisconsin and other battleground states will decide the 2024 presidential election winner.
The story behind the St. James Hotel is simple: 11 business owners needed a place for people to stay when they came to town. Likely none of them envisioned their establishment would one day end up on the National Register of Historic Places.
During the first week of December, Little Falls holds Christmas tours around town. It's a chance for historic buildings to deck their halls and spread their cheer.
Duluth is known for its scenic views across the city, but one location stands out from the rest.
One family's creative design in central Minnesota allows guests to sleep under the stars — at any time of year.
"Thomas Dambo, he believes the trolls really help us kind of shine a light on how we can take better care of the environment and be better to each other," said Stearns.
There are a lot of reasons to get distracted this time of year and to procrastinate.
It's a term that's being thrown around a lot these days. Some think it's a social thing, others a medical thing.
Every home has a distinct smell, and chances are your home smells just as strong to other people. Why can't we notice our own home's smell but we can notice everyone else's?
An important deadline is approaching, and we're not talking about Christmas shopping. End of semester exams are coming up for students of all ages.
Jeff Wagner dives into the cold-weather dating trend that has singles looking for love with a time limit.
Regions Hospital and Children's Minnesota share photos of their tiniest patients dressed to the nines for Halloween.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Thursday night due to the arrival of a severe geomagnetic storm.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Monday night.
Storms ripped through parts of Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Thursday evening. There were several reports of tornadoes and trees were downed in the metro and beyond, including in Cottage Grove, Anoka, Champlin and Fridley.
A powerful thunderstorm tore through the grounds of the Minnesota State Fair on Monday night, delaying Tuesday's opening.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer has your latest forecast and he says they'll be no more snow for 2024, despite a large system coming our way.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
This week has been warm, which isn't great for winter activities, but skaters and hockey players have been able to enjoy a refrigerated outdoor ice rink in Roseville.
It's looking like it will be a very mild end to 2024, which could end up being the Twin Cities' warmest year on record.
This week's been warm, which isn't great for outdoor winter activities. But one outdoor rink is letting people lace up their skates even if temperatures are in the 50s.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer has your latest forecast and he says they'll be no more snow for 2024, despite a large system coming our way.
Coincidence or divine intervention? For two owls in Minnesota, it was perhaps a bit of both. WCCO's John Lauritsen introduces us to the woman who saved not one, but two owls, in two separate instances.
Two parents are behind bars after police discover that drugs may have been the cause of death for their 18-month-old. WCCO's Adam Duxter has the story.
An auto shop in Waverly, Minnesota has been deemed a total loss after a fire broke out on the premises on Christmas day. WCCO's Jason Rantala has more.
It's looking like it will be a very mild end to 2024, which could end up being the Twin Cities' warmest year on record.