CUYUNA — The sounds of chain saws springing to life filled the air within an hour of the severe thunderstorm Wednesday night, June 12, that ripped through the Cuyuna lakes area.
Century-old white pines and red oaks were no match for ferocious winds believed to be generated by a tornado, caught on film by storm chasers driving north on Highway 210 near Aitkin. The National Weather Service in Duluth reported 911 dispatchers confirmed the sighting, with social media video later showing the same storm producing another tornado between Aitkin and Glen.
Multiple touchdowns from Aiken to Glen, MN. Still ongoing. #tornado @NWSduluth #MNwx pic.twitter.com/n6u2nTnpn8
— Ben McHone (@Tornado_Warned) June 13, 2024
The storm systems also brought hail across north-central and northeastern Minnesota, with stones in the Crosslake area equaling the size of baseballs. For days, the weather service has warned of the elevated risk of severe weather for the region, noting Minnesota reaches this third risk level just once a year, on average.
Late Wednesday, Crow Wing County Sheriff Eric Klang said responders continued to assess storm damage in a narrow swath stretching from the Pine River-Backus area through Crosslake and into Aitkin. No known injuries were reported, and no one needed emergency shelter due to the storm, Klang said.
“It obviously scared some people that were home, because it was pretty loud. But she was moving pretty quick, too, so it didn’t last long,” he said.
Along Highway 6 near Rabbit Lake, hefty tree trunks blocked driveways and punched through homes and garages. A large camper was flipped onto its roof and a nearby two-story garage under construction collapsed onto vehicles inside. Boats and lifts were partially submerged along docks with missing sections. Traffic slowed in the area as a snowplow worked to clear the shoulders littered with debris.
Dennis and Georgene Molesky were some of those who rode out the storm inside their Rabbit Lake home. The couple took shelter inside the laundry room, an interior space with no windows.
“It was like a freight train,” Dennis said. “ ... The first time I came and looked out, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh.’ ”
“Our picnic table from the deck is lying face down on the ground. The gas grill from the other side of the deck is on the front of the deck now on its face,” Georgene added.
“We’re all healthy and talking, so we’re OK, but I bet 30, 40 trees at least,” Dennis said.
After the storm, the Moleskys checked on next-door neighbors Lynn and Shelly Harker, who were caught in the severe weather while driving back from a dinner party near Serpent Lake. When they arrived home, they found their driveway inaccessible and trees strewn every which way.
“I saw this wall of water coming across Rabbit Lake right at us, and I thought it’s either a huge downdraft or a tornado,” Lynn said. “And the car just rocketed back and forth, and stuff was hitting us. And we got around to the edge of it, and the trees were just bent over.”
Arriving soon to the rescue were the couple’s son and grandson, Jamie and Ben Harker, who drove from their home on Pokegama Lake in Grand Rapids to help with the cleanup. Jamie grew up at the lake house where his parents have lived for more than 30 years.
“This yard was just a park. I mean, it’s such a beautiful yard with these big oaks,” he said, gesturing toward the trees’ root balls torn from the rain-soaked earth. “ ... Yep. Pretty tough to see.”
Lynn surveyed the yard he’d mowed that morning, now covered in blown-down leaves and crisscrossed by fallen branches and trunks.
“What a mess. I don’t even know where to begin, you know?” Lynn said. “You work so hard your whole life to have a beautiful place ... and now it’s gone.”
Yet another neighbor, Jim Patrick, explained he and his own son were caught in the storm while riding side-by-side all-terrain vehicles near Greer Lake.
“I’ve got bruises on my arms from the hail,” Patrick said. “What could you do? Get under a tree?”
The Rabbit Lake area wasn’t alone in experiencing destruction. The National Weather Service also received reports of heavy damage and large hail in the Crosslake area. One place smacked hard by a tree was MN Roots Smoke Shop on County Highway 3. A large pine smashed through the roof, directly over equipment the owners just moved in.
“We just brought in a bunch of cannabis equipment for the future adult use expansion,” said owner Buck McAlpin. “ ... Lots of damage in the Crosslake area. I’ve never seen hail like that in my 60 years of life. Forty-five minutes of golf ball-plus-sized hail. Unbelievable.”
