An evening  cluster of storms in eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota moved into northeast Minnesota overnight and into the early morning. Bow echoes within the cluster of storms caused damaging winds parts of central and northeast Minnesota. Among the hardest hit areas were the Brainerd, Gull Lake, and Nisswa areas where many trees and power lines were blown down. A Minnesota icon, a 3-ton statue of Babe the Blue Ox at Paul Bunyan Land east of Brainerd, was toppled over by the winds. There was tree and tent damage at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds in Brainerd. The damage suggested widespread sustained wind speeds of 70 to 90 mph. Another hard hit area was the Twig community west-northwest of Duluth, where another bowing storm brought 70 to 90 mph through the area that brought down many trees and power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind in ITASCA, MINNESOTA
From 03-AUG-16 23:52:00 to 03-AUG-16 23:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: INGER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A few 6 to 8 diameter trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in CROW WING, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 02:06:00 to 04-AUG-16 02:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE HUBERT
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

This measurement was from a personal weather station on northeast Gull Lake.

Thunderstorm Wind in CROW WING, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 02:22:00 to 04-AUG-16 02:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: (BRD)WEILAND FLD BRA
Magnitude: 68.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

This measurement was from the KBRD ASOS at the Brainerd Airport.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASS, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 02:02:00 to 04-AUG-16 02:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE SHR
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

More than twelve large white pines and poplars were snapped off or toppled by the winds. Some of the fallen trees brought down power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind in ST. LOUIS, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 03:31:00 to 04-AUG-16 03:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: (DLH)DULUTH INTL ARP
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

The measurement was from the KDLH ASOS at the Duluth International Airport.

Thunderstorm Wind in CROW WING, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 02:09:00 to 04-AUG-16 02:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE HUBERT
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous trees were blown down near the area of State Highway 371 and Nashway Road. Many roads were blocked by fallen trees and trees were down on power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind in ST. LOUIS, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 03:36:00 to 04-AUG-16 03:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUNTERS PARK
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Reported by: Public

A large tree was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in CROW WING, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 02:19:00 to 04-AUG-16 02:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: PEQUOT LAKES ARPT
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The winds blew down one large, and several small, trees in Breezy Point.

Thunderstorm Wind in CROW WING, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 02:10:00 to 04-AUG-16 02:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE HUBERT
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Blown down trees were blocking Sunset Valley Road north of County Road 13.

Thunderstorm Wind in CROW WING, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 02:12:00 to 04-AUG-16 02:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRAINERD
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trees and large branches were blown down across the east side of Brainerd, including in the Brainerd Mall area.

Thunderstorm Wind in AITKIN, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 02:48:00 to 04-AUG-16 02:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: WEALTHWOOD
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Aitkin County Sheriff Department reported some trees were blown down along Minnesota State Highway 18 on the north side of Mille Lacs Lake.

Thunderstorm Wind in CROW WING, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 02:12:00 to 04-AUG-16 02:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRAINERD
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: Public

Several trees were blown down and tin roof sheeting was scattered on the road near Southeast 13th Street in Brainerd near the county fairgrounds.

Thunderstorm Wind in ST. LOUIS, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 03:27:00 to 04-AUG-16 03:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: (DLH)DULUTH INTL ARP
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Employee

A tree was blown down along Ugstad Road, halfway between Arrowhead Road and Highway 53.

Thunderstorm Wind in ST. LOUIS, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 03:19:00 to 04-AUG-16 03:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: TWIG
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Employee

A couple large trees were blown down along Canosia Road near Twig.

Thunderstorm Wind in CARLTON, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 02:45:00 to 04-AUG-16 02:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: CROMWELL
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: COOP Observer

A large tree, about 80' tall, and many other trees, were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in ST. LOUIS, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 03:20:00 to 04-AUG-16 03:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: BARTLETT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Reported by: Public

There were large branches blown down along Munger Shaw Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in CROW WING, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 02:20:00 to 04-AUG-16 02:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: WOODROW
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Reported by: Newspaper

A 3 ton statue of Babe the Blue Ox at Paul Bunyan Land was blown over by the winds. The statue was free-standing.

Thunderstorm Wind in ST. LOUIS, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 03:22:00 to 04-AUG-16 03:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: BARTLETT
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: Public

Blown down trees were blocking Esker Trail near Fish Lake.

Thunderstorm Wind in ST. LOUIS, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 03:18:00 to 04-AUG-16 03:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: TWIG
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A large tree was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in CROW WING, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 02:17:00 to 04-AUG-16 02:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: (BRD)WEILAND FLD BRA
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Two large oak trees, 12 to 18 in diameter, were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in CROW WING, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 02:05:00 to 04-AUG-16 02:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRAINERD
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Reported by: Public

A pontoon boat on the southwest side of North Long Lake was flipped over by the winds and the dock was damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind in CROW WING, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 02:08:00 to 04-AUG-16 02:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: NISSWA
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Reported by: Public

Numerous trees were blown down across the Nisswa area.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASS, MINNESOTA
From 03-AUG-16 23:58:00 to 03-AUG-16 23:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: BENA
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A wind speed was recorded by a personal weather station.

Thunderstorm Wind in ITASCA, MINNESOTA
From 04-AUG-16 00:05:00 to 04-AUG-16 00:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: BIGFORK
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: Public

A large tree was blown onto a house. The house received minor damages.