(UPDATED) Confirmed Tornado Activity in the Southern Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN (KROC-AM News) - The National Weather Service has confirmed at least three tornado touchdowns occurred during the storms that caused widespread damage in parts of southern Minnesota early Friday.
One of the confirmed twisters hit an area in northeast Burnsville along Highway 13, another was reported in Apple Valley and survey teams have confirmed a third tornado in Savage. The National Weather Service estimates all three tornadoes were EF0 storms with winds up to 85 mph. The amount of damage caused by the tornadoes i still being assessed.
In addition to the tornadoes, the National Weather Service says there was also widespread damage caused by downburst winds.
The National Weather Service previously reported straight-line wind gusts gusting in excess of 65 mph were produced by the storms, which downed numerous trees and powerlines throughout the southern Twin Cities area and into western Wisconsin. At the peak, tens of thousands of homes and businesses were without power.
The storm system is also blamed for at least one death. Officials in Mankato say a 4-year-old girl died after a tree branch fell on her family's tent while they were camping in a Mankato park. The Mankato Free Press is reporting the young victim's family was participating in an annual pow wow when the deadly incident occurred. The newspaper says the Chairman of the pow wow identified the girl as Natalia Ashes of Yankton, South Dakota.
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