Two rounds of severe thunderstorms hit portions of southeast Minnesota during the evening hours of September 4th and the early morning hours of the 5th. The first event,  produced large hail up to tennis ball size near Canton (Fillmore County) and the second event produced damaging winds, which mainly impacted the city of Rochester (Olmsted County). Over 175 trees were blown down in Rochester along with power lines causing 4,800 customers to loose power. Lightning struck a Rochester house causing a fire that resulted in over $40,000 of damage.

Hail in WINONA, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 15:26:00 to 04-SEP-12 15:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: STOCKTON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Golf ball sized hail was reported in Stockton.

Hail in FILLMORE, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 16:23:00 to 04-SEP-12 16:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: HENRYTOWN
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tennis ball sized hail fell north of Canton.

Lightning in OLMSTED, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 23:15:00 to 05-SEP-12 00:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROCHESTER
Property damage: 45.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

The roof of a home on the southeast side of Rochester was destroyed by a fire that was ignited by a lightning strike.

Hail in FILLMORE, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 16:57:00 to 04-SEP-12 16:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: TAWNEY
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail up to 2 inches in diameter fell northeast of Mabel denting a vehicle. An estimated 60 mph wind gust also occurred.

Hail in WINONA, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 15:00:00 to 04-SEP-12 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SARATOGA
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail up to 2 inches in diameter was reported northwest of Clyde.

Thunderstorm Wind in MOWER, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 23:21:00 to 04-SEP-12 23:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAPLEVIEW
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

The KMSQ TV transmitter tower, located at Riverland Community College in Austin, was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in DODGE, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 23:40:00 to 04-SEP-12 23:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: DODGE CENTER ARPT
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

The automated weather observing system at the Dodge Center airport measured a wind gust of 59 miles per hour.

Hail in HOUSTON, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 17:00:00 to 04-SEP-12 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SPRING GROVE
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Up to tennis ball sized hail was reported in Spring Grove.

Hail in WINONA, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 14:55:00 to 04-SEP-12 14:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST CHARLES
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Golf ball sized hail fell just south of St. Charles.

Hail in HOUSTON, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 16:56:00 to 04-SEP-12 16:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOUND PRAIRIE
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail up to 2 inches in diameter was reported in Mound Prairie.

Hail in WINONA, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 15:26:00 to 04-SEP-12 15:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINONA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in WINONA, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 15:47:00 to 04-SEP-12 15:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINONA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Hail in WINONA, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 16:30:00 to 04-SEP-12 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: HART
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in HOUSTON, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 16:50:00 to 04-SEP-12 16:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOUND PRAIRIE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in HOUSTON, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 17:05:00 to 04-SEP-12 17:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: SPRING GROVE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in WINONA, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 15:25:00 to 04-SEP-12 15:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: GOODVIEW
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Nickel to quarter size hail was reported in Goodview.

Lightning in OLMSTED, MINNESOTA
From 05-SEP-12 00:20:00 to 05-SEP-12 01:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROCHESTER
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

A house on the southeast side of Rochester was struck by lightning which started a fire in the attic. The fire was quickly brought under control but the lightning strike created a serious electrical problem in the house and two firefighters received minor shocks but were not injured.

Thunderstorm Wind in OLMSTED, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 23:59:00 to 04-SEP-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROCHESTER
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet automated weather observing system measured a wind gust of 74 miles per hour in Rochester.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOUSTON, MINNESOTA
From 05-SEP-12 00:37:00 to 05-SEP-12 00:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: CALEDONIA
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 95.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

An eighty foot tall tree fell on a garage and four vehicles near the intersection of First  and Main Streets in Caledonia.

Thunderstorm Wind in OLMSTED, MINNESOTA
From 04-SEP-12 23:57:00 to 05-SEP-12 00:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROCHESTER
Magnitude: 64.00 EG
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Over 175 trees were blown down across Rochester. Numerous homes and cars were damaged when the trees landed on them. Power lines were also blown down or came down with the fallen trees, knocking out the power to 4,800 customers across the city.