Tornado confirmed near Stewartville, recovery operations underway

STEWARTVILLE, Minn. (FOX 9) – Residents in Olmsted County are cleansing up severe storm damage, with the sheriff’s workplace saying “disaster recovery continues to occur at full speed.”

No accidents from the storm have been reported thus far.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in La Crosse, Wisconsin, confirmed an EF2 twister touched down near Stewartville on Friday afternoon.

READ MORE: Minnesota weather: Photos and videos of tornadoes, hail and severe weather

This story will probably be up to date with the most recent particulars on storm injury within the area.

Tornado confirmed by National Weather Service 

Photo shared by the National Weather Service exhibits the trail of a twister that broken houses and farms within the space.  (Supplied)

What they’re saying:

The NWS in La Crosse, Wisconsin, confirmed an EF2 twister touched down near Stewartville round 2:12 p.m. 

Officials confirmed {that a} “tornado formed just northeast of Stewartville around 2:17 p.m. on Friday and traveled about 10 miles northeast, damaging numerous homes and farms.”

Extensive injury was discovered near Marion Road simply northeast of Highway 52.

The NWS survey abstract documented houses with severely broken rooftops and partially collapsed exterior partitions.

By the numbers:

NWS officers say they used radar estimation to find out the twister was on the bottom for about 14 minutes and was about 175 yards at its widest, which was primarily in rural areas. 

The EF2 twister had an estimated peak wind pace of 130 mph and had a path size of about 9.67 miles.  

Olmsted County storm recovery

Rochester residents describe tornado

Cleanup is underway as households assess the aftermath and start repairs after a twister touched down near Rochester, inflicting injury in Stewartville and close by areas. FOX 9’s Leon Purvis was onsite to talk with residents left within the wake.

Local perspective:

Extensive injury was noticed in Olmsted county, with houses within the Rochester and Stewartville areas seen with rooftops blown off and particles scattered throughout a number of properties.

The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office shared the following statement on social media Saturday afternoon:

“Marion Road southeast in Marion Township between Vine Place southeast to Walnut Street southeast will be closed for utility recovery for the rest of the day, today, Saturday, April 18.

“Tornado catastrophe recovery continues to happen at full pace. Please share in your channels and social media websites the hyperlink and e mail for catastrophe recovery and injury assessments under.

“Olmsted County continues to request residents to finish a preliminary injury evaluation kind if they’ve skilled property injury: https://www.olmstedcounty.gov/Form/DamageAssessmentForm

“Reports will also be submitted by way of e mail: sheriffweb@olmstedcounty.gov”

Severe storm injury reported 

Photo shows a tornado forming in Carley State Park.  (FOX 9)

The backstory:

A tornado swept by Stewartville and areas near Rochester on Friday, leaving a trail of damage and sending residents scrambling for safety.

READ MORE: Rochester tornado: Residents describe close call as twister tears through town

The tornado was visible from miles away, with Mike Myre of La Crosse, Wisconsin, saying, “I might see funnel clouds forming the north of me as I traveled east.”

The storm snapped trees and broke windows in homes, forcing families to take shelter.

Beth Kloss of Stewartville was at home with her children when the tornado warning came through.

“Just hastily, out of nowhere, there was the largest wind gust I’ve ever skilled in my life, and I began feeling like a present of wind going by our home and heard glass breaking,” said Kloss.

She described grabbing her 2-year-old and heading downstairs: “Just in that brief matter of time, all of our home windows upstairs had damaged, and there was glass flying by our home, so we ran downstairs and took shelter at that time,” said Kloss.

Residents are now beginning the long process of cleaning up after the storm, with downed trees and damaged homes visible throughout the area.