Twisters reported in Albert Lea area

Published 9:49 am Monday, June 22, 2009

A line of thunderstorms moved across much of the Albert Lea area Sunday evening, producing many brief tornadoes. Many of them touched the ground before dying. Much of the Albert Lea area faced tornado and flood warnings.

Two tornadoes are reported to have touched down in the Easton area, and one also touched down near Baroda. At 7:54 p.m. the most dangerous part of the storm was two miles southeast of Minnesota Lake.

A tornado was reported on the ground near Walters around 8:05 p.m. At 8:41, the most dangerous part of the storm was reported near Baroda or about three miles east of Wells moving east at 15 mph.

Email newsletter signup

At 8:55 p.m. a severe part of the storm with strong rotation was three miles northeast of Alden moving northeast at 10 mph. At 8:35 p.m. a tornado was reported one mile southwest of Alden.

Spotters reported a tornado on the ground at 9:06 p.m. near Manchester moving northeast at 15 mph. A tornado may have briefly touched down southwest of Manchester at 8:58 p.m. At 9 p.m., the most dangerous part of the storm was about two miles west of Manchester, headed toward Clarks Grove at 15 mph.

A tornado briefly touched down near Emmons along the Minnesota-Iowa border. A strong part of the storm with strong rotation was spotted northwest of Glenville moving northeast at 15 mph at 9:32 p.m. Spotters reported several funnel clouds near Twin Lakes at 9:20 p.m., with at least one touching the ground briefly. The storm was moving northeast at 20 mph.

At 10:06 p.m., the most dangerous portion of the storm was located over Glenville moving east at 15 mph. Parts of the storm were reported to be nearing Albert Lea.

Severe storms with strong rotation were reported three miles west of Myrtle at 10:21 p.m. moving east at 15 mph. A funnel cloud was reported south of Hayward at 10:20 p.m.

The tornado warning had been extended for Freeborn County until 11 p.m., but it was canceled around 10:30 p.m. A tornado watch remained in effect until 11 p.m.

A flood advisory was issued for Freeborn County until 3 a.m. Radar indicated 2 to 3 inches of rain had fallen across much of northern Freeborn County. Minor flooding had been expected, especially along small streams and ditches and along Interstate 90.

The sirens sounded three times in Albert Lea, the first near 7:30 p.m., the latest being 9:20 p.m.

Power lines were reported down near in the Alden area.

Low-lying areas in the region this morning were shrouded in thick fog, but high areas were bathed in bright sunshine.

According to the KIMT weather forecast, the high today is expected to be 88, with high humidity. There is a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms tonight.