EF-1 Tornado Confirmed in Melrose

(KNSI) — The National Weather Service confirms an EF-1 tornado touched down in Melrose Saturday night.

The official summary report says, “The tornado was estimated to touch down on the northwest side of Melrose, and traveled southeast towards Black Oak Lake on the south side of Melrose. The tornado damaged several farms outside Melrose, and several businesses within Melrose.”

The top wind speeds were measured at 95 miles an hour, and the damage path was roughly four miles long. The tornado was on the ground for about six minutes, from 8:10 p.m. to 8:16 p.m.

A pair of strong supercells formed along the front over central Minnesota during the late afternoon and traveled south-southeast through the evening. Initial storms produced large hail up to three inches in diameter, with sporadic reports of wind damage elsewhere. As of Saturday night, roughly 5,000 customers were left without power.

The Stearns County Parks Department is also asking users of the Dairyland and Lake Wobegon Trails to stay away for the time being as tree damage along the paths is described as “significant.”

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