Expand / Collapse search
☰

Tornadoes observed during severe storms in MN, WI

By FOX 9 Staff
Updated  August 29, 2024 5:52pm CDT
Severe Weather
FOX 9

WATCH: Waterspout tornado on Bde Maka Ska

A waterspout tornado, which is a tornado that forms over a body of water or moves from land to water, was caught on video forming over Bde Maka Ska on Thursday.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Strong storms moved through Minnesota and Wisconsin on Thursday, leaving behind plenty of damage reports and power outages.

Tornado warning; thunderstorm warnings issued

The storm approached the Twin Cities metro during the 3 o'clock hour on Thursday afternoon, with two waves sweeping through.

The storm prompted several severe thunderstorm warnings along with tornado warnings during the late afternoon.

Submit your photos: Damage and weather photos can be sent to FOX 9 at fox9.com/photos

Check the latest weather alerts here. You can also get location-based weather alerts on your mobile device by downloading the FOX 9 weather app and allowing notifications.

Power outages reported

Crews spent days restoring power to thousands of people in the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin after strong storms on Monday. Thursday's storms again knocked out power for some. As of 8:20 p.m., more than 25,000 customers were without power. Here's the latest. 

Minnesota State Fair flooding during storm

A child was playing in a flooded street at the Minnesota State Fair after a severe storm pushed through the area on Aug. 29, 2024.

Tornadoes reported

Throughout the evening, there were three reports of tornadoes in the north Twin Cities metro area and western Wisconsin.

Two tornadoes were reported in the Isanti area around 5 p.m.: one along County Road 5 east of Isanti and a second report north of North Branch.

Around 6:15 p.m., a tornado was reported six miles south of Hammond, Wis.

U of M tailgaters run for cover during storm

As a severe storm moved across the area, people tailgating ahead of the Minnesota Gophers football game ran for cover into Mariucci Arena.

Storms disrupt fair, Gophers opener

The severe weather caused delays for the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Gophers' season kickoff on Thursday.

The storms briefly forced visitors to run for cover as they passed through. The weather forced the fair to delay the doors opening for the Motley Crue show, but the show was able to go on as planned at 7 p.m.

The Gophers also pushed back their kickoff to 8 p.m. due to severe weather. The game was originally slated to start at 7 p.m.

Minnesota State Fairgoers seek shelter during storm

FOX 9's Courtney Godfrey shares an update on conditions at the Minnesota State Fair as severe weather pushes through the area.

Damage reports

Most of the damage reports from the National Weather Service have come in from the north metro:

  • Trees are down near the spot where a tornado was observed at County Road 5 and Durant Street NE in Isanti Township.
  • Large pine trees are down along Viking Boulevard NW near University Avenue in Oak Grove.
  • Our crews encountered downed trees near Cartway Road and Dayton Road in Champlin.
  • Multiple trees are down near 229th Avenue and Holly Street south of Bethel.
  • Trees are down near North Arbor Lake in Maple Grove.
  • Trees are down along the Mississippi River at King's Island west of Anoka.
  • Trees and power lines are down along Highway 5 near Lake Minnewashta.