DETROIT LAKES — Storms swept through Northern Minnesota Monday night, July 6.
The Detroit Lakes area saw the worst damage. A confirmed tornado touched down around 8:15 p.m. on the west side of Floyd Lake, a few miles north of the city.
A preliminary assessment by the National Weather Service office in Grand Forks found damage associated with wind speeds up to 110 mph, including roofs off of homes, tipped over buildings and fallen trees. The area also received 1.15 inches of rain during the storm.
Becker County leaders hosted a news conference Tuesday morning.
“In my career, yes, I believe this is one of the biggest,” Sheriff Todd Glander said about the storm.
Glander also reported three people went to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
An emergency operations center and shelter was set up at Minnesota State Community College in Detroit Lakes. According to Glander, 31 residents have been helped at the center so far.
“This community, they step up, they stick together, we help each other,” Glander said. “As far as how we feel, it’s amazing.”
He said only residents or those associated with a property will be let into the affected area for the time being.
The storm also knocked out power across the region. Lake Country Power reported 3,500 members affected by outages. Crow Wing Power reported nearly 900, and Detroit Lakes Public Utilities reported 500 lost power.
More storms may hit Tuesday night and into the day Wednesday.
Isolated severe storms and heavy rainfall are expected in northeast and west central Minnesota. The storms could produce large hail, up to 60 mph winds and scattered flash flooding throughout the region.
Flood watches were issued for Tuesday night into Wednesday morning in southern Cass, Crow Wing, southern Aitkin, Pine, Wadena, East Otter Tail, West Otter Tail, Grant and Wilkin counties.
Strong thunderstorms are possible Thursday late afternoon and evening in northwest and west-central Minnesota.
Accompanying expected drier conditions this weekend, temperatures of highs around 90 degrees are in the forecast throughout Northern Minnesota.
