Minnesota Tornadoes: Damage & Updates
- severe thunderstorms spawned several tornadoes across north-central Minnesota on Monday, impacting Crow Wing, Cass, and Aitkin counties.The severe whether, including reports of tornadoes, strong winds, and hail, led...
- The National Weather Service (NWS) in duluth issued a tornado warning at 4:40 p.m., which was extended multiple times as spotters and law enforcement confirmed tornado activity near...
- A storm chaser reported debris in the air near Wealthwood in Aitkin County, while a trained spotter near Merrifield noted trees downed in various directions.
Severe thunderstorms unleashed multiple Minnesota tornadoes Monday, causing significant disruption. Initial reports confirm touchdowns in Crow Wing, Cass, and Aitkin counties, leading to widespread power outages affecting approximately 2,000 customers and forcing road closures due to fallen trees and debris. the National Weather Service issued warnings as spotters tracked the tornado activity near gull Lake and Brainerd, with heavy rain and hail also reported. Residents experienced blocked roads and downed power lines. Agencies are actively assessing the full extent of the damage while crews work to restore power and clear roadways. For more details,News Directory 3 offers real-time updates. Discover what’s next …
Minnesota Tornadoes Cause Power Outages and Road Closures
Updated June 17, 2025
severe thunderstorms spawned several tornadoes across north-central Minnesota on Monday, impacting Crow Wing, Cass, and Aitkin counties.The severe whether, including reports of tornadoes, strong winds, and hail, led to power outages and road closures, but initial reports indicate no major injuries.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in duluth issued a tornado warning at 4:40 p.m., which was extended multiple times as spotters and law enforcement confirmed tornado activity near Gull Lake, Crosby, and east of Brainerd. The storms also brought heavy rain, with Brainerd receiving over an inch, and hail as large as 1.25 inches reported in Lake Shore. The news of the storms spread quickly.
A storm chaser reported debris in the air near Wealthwood in Aitkin County, while a trained spotter near Merrifield noted trees downed in various directions. County Road 127 west of Merrifield was temporarily closed between County Highway 3 and County Road 137 due to fallen trees blocking the roadway.Crews worked to repair highline damage.
steve Bible, a resident of County Road 127, assisted in clearing roads with a chainsaw. He described the approaching storm as having dark green and gray swirling clouds. The breaking news included reports of blocked driveways and crushed powerlines.
Nisswa fire and Rescue responded to Twin Lakes Road, north of Merrifield, to remove multiple large trees. A large wooden sign at Northland Construction on County Highway 3 was also toppled by the winds. Mollie lake Road was also temporarily closed for tree removal.
Crow Wing County Emergency Management Director clayton Barg reported that the emergency command trailer was positioned in Merrifield at the Merrifield Lions Park. At that time, approximately 2,000 people were without power, and numerous trees were down. however, no structural damage or injuries had been reported.
Crow Wing County Sheriff Eric Klang said dozens of trees were down, resulting in multiple road closures.Drones were deployed to assess damage to homes and other structures.
“We got a lot of tree damage, a lot of roads blocked. We have about 2,000 people without power, and we are currently just trying to make an assessment,” Klang said.
Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk reported minor structural damage and dozens of trees down, primarily around Agate Lake, west of Gull Lake. Welk stated they “dodged a bullet.”
Crow Wing Power reported 1,800 members in the Merrifield area without power as of 5:16 p.m. monday. Minnesota Power reported 17 customers affected by outages in Cass and Crow Wing counties at 5:30 p.m. Crews were dispatched to restore power. Residents were advised to avoid downed power lines and report outages.
What’s next
Authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage from the latest round of severe weather and coordinate cleanup efforts. Power restoration is a priority, and residents are urged to exercise caution and report any hazards.