An area of low pressure that developed across the Central Plains Monday evening, October 25, quickly intensified the morning of Tuesday, October 26th, as it moved northward across Minnesota.
Intense pressure drops, combined with the strong pressure gradient, caused wind speeds to increase during the afternoon, which continued through Wednesday morning.
Widespread sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph, with gusts over 60 mph, were common from the late afternoon through the night, before tapering off Wednesday morning.
The area of low pressure was also a record in terms of lowest pressure ever recorded in Minnesota (reference the entry by National Weather Service Duluth MN).
Many reports were received of large trees blown down, with power outages throughout southern and central Minnesota during the height of the storm.

High Wind in CHIPPEWA, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 12:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 55 mph during the afternoon, and again around midnight.  A MNDOT Mesonet site at Clara City measured a peak wind gust of 60 mph at 6:00 PM CST.

High Wind in BROWN, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 12:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the late morning, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on mesonet weather stations, a few gusts were over 55 mph during the afternoon, and again around midnight. The New Ulm AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 56 mph at 1:55 PM CST.

High Wind in CARVER, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 15:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 35 to 40 mph across the county for several hours.

High Wind in STEELE, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 15:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 55 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight through sunrise. The Owatonna AWOS measured a wind gust of 55 mph at 9:14 PM CST, and again 6:54 AM CST.  The MNDOT Mesonet site north of Ellendale, Minnesota, measured a wind gust of 63 mph at 12:55 AM CST.

High Wind in SIBLEY, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 13:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 55 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight.

High Wind in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 13:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 55 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight. A MNDOT AWOS at Sauk Centre, Minnesota, measured a wind gust of 63 mph at 7:00 PM CST. Another MNDOT Mesonet site at Georgeville, Minnesota measured a wind gust of 66 mph at 6:55 PM CST. The Paynesville, Minnesota AWOS measured a wind gust of 61 mph at 9:10 PM CST.

High Wind in TODD, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 14:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 35 to 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on local weather stations, observations across the county, a few gusts were over 50 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight.

High Wind in WASECA, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 14:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 35 to 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several local weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 50 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight through sunrise.

High Wind in RENVILLE, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 12:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Wind speeds increased significantly during the early afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  The Olivia, Minnesota, AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph at 12:50 AM CST. In addition, several large branches and a large tree were blown down in Sacred Heart, Minnesota, around 4:30 PM CST.

High Wind in BENTON, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 15:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 35 to 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several local weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 50 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight.  A MNDOT Mesonet site near Rice, Minnesota, measured a peak wind gust of 55 mph at 6:01 PM CST.

High Wind in BLUE EARTH, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 13:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  A local weather station site southeast of downtown Mankato, had a peak wind gust of 58 mph at 7:49 PM CST. The Mankato, Minnesota AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 56 mph at 12:15 AM CST.  The MNDOT Mesonet at Madelia measured a peak wind gust of 56 mph at 12:47 AM CST.

High Wind in SCOTT, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 15:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 35 to 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 55 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight. A few large tree limbs were blown down in Prior Lake, Minnesota around 6:00 PM CST.

High Wind in SHERBURNE, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 15:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 50 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight. The RAWS Station at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge measured a peak wind gust of 51 mph at 5:20 PM CST.

High Wind in ANOKA, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 16:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts peaked over 50 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight. A local weather station in Ramsey, Minnesota, had a measured wind gust of 52 mph at 7:04 PM CST.

High Wind in REDWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 12:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Wind speeds increased significantly during the late morning, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county.  The Redwood Falls, Minnesota ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph at 1:15 AM CST.

High Wind in MEEKER, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 13:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  A 14 inch diameter tree was snapped in half and fell on a home in Litchfield, Minnesota, at 4:17 PM CST.  A RAWS station south of Litchfield, Minnesota, measured a peak wind gust of 54 mph at 4:11 PM CST.

High Wind in MILLE LACS, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 16:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  A 70 foot tall tree blew down on a car, 3 miles west of Princeton, Minnesota at 6:00 PM CST. A local weather station measured a peak wind gust of 54 mph at 7:30 PM CST near Onamia, Minnesota.  A MNDOT Mesonet site measured a peak wind gust of 55 mph at 7:17 PM CST north of Milaca, Minnesota.

High Wind in POPE, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 12:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  The Glenwood, Minnesota, AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph at 6:30 PM CST. A MNDOT Mesonet site about 9 miles south of Starbuck, Minnesota, measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph at 4:16 PM CST.

High Wind in RAMSEY, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 16:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  A 6 to 8 foot diameter tree blew down on a small business in St. Paul, Minnesota around 12:15 AM CST.

High Wind in KANDIYOHI, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 13:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  The Willmar, Minnesota, AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph at 6:50 PM CST.

High Wind in LAC QUI PARLE, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 10:30:00 to 27-OCT-10 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Based on mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, there were numerous gusts in excess of 55 mph during the late morning, then through the early morning of October 27th.  A MNDOT Mesonet site south of Marietta, Minnesota measured a peak wind gust of 66 mph at 8:20 PM CST. A MNDOT AWOS site at the  Madison, Minnesota airport, measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph at 12:30 AM CST.

High Wind in LE SUEUR, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 15:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 35 to 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 55 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight.

High Wind in RICE, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 15:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 35 to 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 55 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight.

High Wind in WASHINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 16:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Several large trees were blown down in Stillwater, Minnesota, around 12:00 AM CST.

High Wind in WATONWAN, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 13:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Wind speeds increased significantly during the early afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  The St. James, Minnesota AWOS measured a wind gust of 59 mph at 2:55 PM CST.

High Wind in DAKOTA, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 15:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 50 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight. In addition, several trees blew down on a home in South St. Paul, Minnesota, with power lines blown down in West St. Paul, Minnesota, around 8:00 PM CST. There was a measured peak wind gust of 51 mph at Castle Rock, Minnesota, at 9:10 PM CST, and a peak wind gust of 52 mph at Rosemount, Minnesota at 6:50 PM CST.

High Wind in WRIGHT, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 15:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 55 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight.  A MNDOT Mesonet site measured a peak wind gust of 60 mph near Clearwater, Minnesota, at 5:43 PM CST.

High Wind in MORRISON, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 16:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 50 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight. A local weather station in Lakin Township had a peak wind gust of 59 mph at 5:58 PM CST.

High Wind in DOUGLAS, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 14:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the early afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 55 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight. A MNDOT Mesonet site southeast of Alexandria measured a wind gust of 62 mph at 3:45 PM CST. In addition, several large tree limbs were blown down southwest of Millerville, Minnesota.

High Wind in STEVENS, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 12:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Wind speeds increased significantly during the early afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  The Morris, Minnesota, AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph at 5:10 PM CST.

High Wind in MARTIN, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 13:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  The Fairmont AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 52 mph at 8:15 PM CST.

High Wind in MCLEOD, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 14:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  A MNDOT Mesonet site measured a peak wind gust of 60 mph at Lester Prairie, Minnesota, at 3:20 PM CST.  A MNDOT AWOS site at Hutchinson, Minnesota, had a peak wind gust of 60 mph at 4:51 PM CST.

High Wind in NICOLLET, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 13:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, and continued through the overnight hours around 40 mph, with a few gusts of 50 to 55 mph in North Mankato, Minnesota were measured.

High Wind in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 12:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Wind speeds increased significantly during the early afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  The Benson, Minnesota, AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph at 2:30 PM CST.  The AWOS at Appleton measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph at 5:10 PM CST.

High Wind in FREEBORN, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 14:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 50 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight through sunrise.

High Wind in FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 12:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  The Blue Earth, Minnesota, MNDOT mesonet site measured several peak wind gusts of 56 mph in the afternoon of October 26th, and again during the morning of October 27th.

High Wind in HENNEPIN, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 15:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind speeds increased significantly during the afternoon, with sustained winds averaging 35 to 40 mph across the county for several hours.  Based on several mesonet weather stations, and observations across the county, a few gusts were over 50 mph during the late afternoon, and again around midnight. A trained spotter reported damage to a highway ramp meter at U.S. Highway 12 and Wayzata Blvd, at 5:04 PM CST.

High Wind in YELLOW MEDICINE, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 11:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Wind speeds increased significantly during the late morning, with sustained winds averaging 40 mph across the county for several hours.  The AWOS in Canby, Minnesota, had a measured peak wind gust of 60 mph at 6:30 PM CST. A measured peak wind gust of 61 mph occurred at the Granite Falls AWOS at 12:30 AM CST.

High Wind in GOODHUE, MINNESOTA
From 26-OCT-10 17:00:00 to 27-OCT-10 07:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind speeds increased significantly during the late afternoon, and continued through the night, and into early Wednesday morning, October 27th.  A MNDOT Mesonet site near Cannon Falls, Minnesota measured two peak wind gusts of 63 mph at 8:54 PM CST and 6:02 AM CST.  In addition, another MNDOT Mesonet site near Welch, Minnesota, had several peak wind gusts of 60 mph around the same time.