KSTP has team coverage today to clean up storms throughout Minnesota. Click on the video player above to view the latest reports.
The small town of Forada in western Minnesota will begin the cleanup process after being hit by a tornado on Monday.
Forada was one of the worst affected communities at the time of Monday’s outbreak.
The National Weather Service (NWS) says law enforcement has confirmed that a tornado has struck the city, and Forada Fire Chief Stephen VanLuick says he is not surprised by what the city looks like.
“Part of the city has not been touched,” he said. “There’s nothing left in the other part of town.”
Two horses are out of the frame after an air canopy (pictured above) nearly crushes them in Maurice, Minnesota, according to the owner. Credit: Jacqueline Vargas
NWS has rated EF-2 the tornado in Forada, with winds reaching 120 mph. The tornado produced “many vortices” and carved a path at least half a mile wide through the city.
The video shows a road more than a mile and a half from damaged buildings, including homes and cabins.
The storm brought strong winds and heavy rain, tore off roofs and walls of buildings, dumped boats and small buildings around and felled trees in the area.
Sandy Myerus-Leser remembered the moments when the tornado approached her family’s neighborhood.
“We have to go down because I could feel the change in pressure in my ears,” she said. “… I shouted, ‘We have to go down.’
Majerus-Lieser said her family went down to the basement just before the storm hit their home.
“It was less than a minute and then it was just glass. “Glass and everything disappeared for a second,” she said.
Her husband, Greg Lieser, recalls feeling the rain on his shoulders as he took shelter after the tornado tore off the roof of the house.
“It’s unbelievable,” Lizer said. “Hit – he was gone in seconds.”
Another Foradan, Ali Qin, said the sound of the storm was something she could not shake off.
“It’s a horrible sound I can’t describe – I will never forget,” Chin said. “I just clung to my boys and dogs and prayed we would stay safe.”
While her family is safe, their home has suffered significant damage. Volunteers helped the Chin family gather what they could from the scattered debris in their front yard.
“As great as this loss was, the outpouring of people in the community – from friends through neighbors to colleagues – was so astounding,” Chin said.
VanLuick says his team has searched homes and says no serious injuries have been reported. The damage from the storm has limited access to areas around Lake Maple to residents and licensed contractors due to fears of flying debris.
“I’ve been in the fire department for 33 years and it’s the first time I’ve seen anything like it,” VanLuick said.
So far, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS have not heard of any organized cleaning efforts.
RELATED: Tornado, strong winds leave traces of damage in Minnesota
In addition to Forada, viewers have sent photos and videos of storm damage across the state. You can find a photo gallery at the end of this report.
Materials sent to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS include a video showing what appears to be a flattened barn in Plato, southeast of Hutchinson.
NWS confirmed on Tuesday that the EF-1 tornado landed in Plato.
The Todd County Sheriff also shared photos of destroyed buildings, roofs torn from others and debris scattered across lawns and roads.
Photos from Starbuck and Appleton show clouds in a funnel in the area.
The storms caused many power outages in various communities.
As of Tuesday morning, there were about 38,000 customers without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us. You can find information on recovery deadlines with your energy company by clicking HERE.
The number of interruptions has decreased from approximately 51,000 customers who experience interruptions at night.
Although energy teams will have to deal with gusty winds on Tuesday, temperatures will be lower than in the last few days. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS Chief meteorologist Ken Barlow adds that there will be some rain during the day. You can find the current forecast by clicking HERE.
If you have photos or videos of the storm or storm damage you want to share, CLICK HERE to do so.
- (KSTP / Eric Shalu)
- (KSTP / Eric Shalu)
- (KSTP / Eric Shalu)
- (KSTP / Eric Shalu)
- (KSTP / Eric Shalu)
- (KSTP / Eric Shalu)
- Storm Damage in the Deere River, Minnesota. Credit: Carrie Cook
- Storm Damage in the Deere River, Minnesota. Credit: Carrie Cook
- Storm Damage in the Deere River, Minnesota. Credit: Carrie Cook
- Storm Damage in the Deere River, Minnesota. Credit: Carrie Cook
- Storm Damage in the Deere River, Minnesota. Credit: Carrie Cook
- Storm Damage in the Deere River, Minnesota. Credit: Carrie Cook
- Storm Damage in the Deere River, Minnesota. Credit: Carrie Cook
- Two horses are out of the frame after an air canopy (pictured above) nearly crushes them in Maurice, Minnesota, according to the owner. Credit: Jacqueline Vargas
- Storms felled trees at the entrance to Antiques America in Hinckley, Minnesota. Credit: Chris Thornby
- A tree fell on a house in eastern Zimmerman, Minnesota. Credit: Schmidt of Zimmerman
- The semi-truck turned sideways and made the traffic return west from exit 61 of Interstate 94. Credit: Kelly
- A tree landed on top of a car parked on a driveway in Stewart, Minnesota. Credit: Sarah of Stewart
- A tree split and fell during storms in Otter Tale County, Minnesota. Credit: Erica Johnson
- Hard weather destroyed the roof of a barn in Barrett, Minnesota. Credit: Scott Daibedal of Barrett
- Lightning split a tree in St. Francis, Minnesota. Credit: Teresa Rudd
- A fallen tree is blocking the driveway as strong winds continue in the Cambridge neighborhood of Minnesota. Credit: Katie of Cambridge
- Barb Foster stood with his granddaughter Noel, who held out her hands to show the size of a tree blown down by winds near New Ulm, Minnesota. Credit: Keith Foster
- Many trees were partially or completely destroyed by winds in Breezy Point, Minnesota. Credit: Spectator from Breezy Point
- The storms swept away parts of several barns and roof sheds on a family farm in New Germany, Minnesota. Credit: Mike Pavelk
- The tornado caused extensive damage to a woman’s home and yard south of Alexandria, Minnesota. Credit: Brian
- Fallen greenery covered a car south of Alexandria, Minnesota. Credit: Brian
- Strong winds blew a trampoline into a tree in Cambridge, Minnesota. Credit: Tatiana Finklea
- A double arch hung over a garage destroyed by a tornado in Nelson, Minnesota. Credit: John Marshall
- A child looks at a large tree, half broken by a gust of wind in Woodbury, Minnesota. Credit: Kristen Kobinski
- A family farm in Leicester Prairie, Minnesota, lost about 30 trees during storms that also damaged a house, barn, outbuildings, power lines, roads and a school from 1800. Credit: Carrie Halvorson
- The storms that passed through Minnesota on Monday also caused damage when they reached Wisconsin, knocking down part of a tree grove in Grantsburg and sending a tree to the country of a nearby home. Credit: Chelsea Cairns
- Felled trees blocked the road in Hinckley, Minnesota. Credit: Amanda of Hinckley
- A Sugar Lake boat lift joined nearby trees in a rollover during Remembrance Day storms. Credit: Jim King
- Minibuses and large trucks were surrounded by stagnant water at the Mason brothers’ wholesale store after the May 30 storms passed through Wadena, Minnesota. Credit: Gabe Gibson
- For related stories: Weather Strong weather storms Forada
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