COHASSET — A line of powerful thunderstorms swept through Northern Minnesota early on Wednesday, July 23, knocking out power for thousands of customers from the Leech Lake Reservation to the Iron Range.
Lake Country Power reports the storm system first caused outages near Leech Lake and Walker, then continued through Grand Rapids, Blackberry, Goodland and areas south of Virginia, Cotton and Cromwell.
As of noon, the electric cooperative reports more than 1,700 without power and 50 separate outage locations left to restore.
Minnesota Power also reported 21 outages as of noon, with 2,600 customers without power, mostly in and around Eveleth. An earlier outage in Walker affecting upwards of 1,000 was mostly restored.
City utilties, including Grand Rapids and Hibbing, also reported outages after the storms moved through, which were restored by midday.
The National Weather Service placed a flood watch in effect through Thursday morning for most of Northern Minnesota.
Ely and Bemidji were under flash flood warnings Wednesday morning. The weather service stated between 6 and 12 inches of water were observed on Ely roads just before 11 a.m. There was more rain on the way.
The storm prompted hazardous road alerts in Cloquet for flooded streets.
Parts of Cass, Itasca and St. Louis counties were also under flood warnings and advisories. The weather service received reports of two to five inches throughout the Northland, including 4 inches in Knife River and Marble, 3 inches in Hibbing, Federal Dam and Carlton, 2 inches in Cohasset and Lutsen and 1.5 inches in Aitkin and Bigfork.
The weather service also reported tree damage caused by wind in Walker, Blackberry, Brevik and Palisade, and flipped pontoons on Big Sandy Lake.
With additional rounds of heavy rainfall expected through Thursday morning, more flash floods are possible around rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
Beltrami County, still in the midst of cleanup from a windstorm on June 21, closed its demolition landfill and temporary mulch collection site due to flash flooding Wednesday.
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Plus: Bemidji area residents comment in the second and final hearing in the administrative trial for the boundary dispute between Bemidji and Northern Township. -
Chelsey Perkins/KAXEWithout the funding, residents’ water bills could increase from about $40 a month to nearly $70. The projected costs for the new facility have risen substantially. -
Lorie Shaull/Special to KAXEThe lawsuit states Robert Slaybaugh was placed in a cell with a sheet and a bunk previously ID'd as a suicide hazard, despite an “overwhelming combination of risk factors.” -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe second and final public comment evening for the boundary dispute trial heard a broad mix of comments from affected residents along Lake Bemidji. -
Contributed/Minnesota Incident Command SystemThe fire has been mapped at 160 acres. A predicted change in weather calls for increased and shifting winds, creating a potential to push the fire toward the trail. -
Plus: The Minnesota Department of Human Rights announced it secured two settlements against northern Minnesota employers for sex discrimination; and the US Small Business Administration is operating a disaster loan outreach center through Oct. 18 in Bemidji for those impacted by the June 21 severe storms.
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Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe Department of Human Rights announced settlements over "blatant workplace sex discrimination" with Lakes Concrete Plus in Bemidji and Key Lime Air in Thief River Falls. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEThe judge further ruled that evidence gathered as part of a driving-while-intoxicated investigation will remain in the case record and scheduled a plea hearing. -
Contributed/Minnesota Interagency Fire CenterThe Minnesota Interagency Fire Center reported the fire is burning in mixed maple hardwoods and fall leaf litter, primarily in a ridge area of the park. -
Contributed/Ellen Schmidt / MinnPost / CatchLight Local / Report for AmericaThe ranks of the hungry are expected to grow as grocery prices remain high and the federal government has cut food stamps and other nutrition programs.
