A complex of thunderstorms developed across west central Minnesota during the early morning of Wednesday, July 12th. These storms moved across the Alexandria area and produced damaging winds, with a measured wind gust of 59 knots at the airport. These storms moved across central Minnesota, and began to accelerate north of the Twin Cities metro area. Some of the storms produced tornadoes and damaging straight line winds as they moved quickly eastward into west central Wisconsin.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 12-JUL-17 01:46:00 to 12-JUL-17 01:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARINE ON ST CROIX
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

About 100 very tall pines were broken or toppled in a neighborhood along the St Croix River. Some landed on houses, sheds and other buildings. A survey determined this area to have been hit by a downburst in the wake of the Warner Nature Center tornado.  Damage to this neighborhood and surrounding areas was quite broad in north/south extent, with damage exhibiting a fanning out pattern, with most trees downed toward the southeast.

Thunderstorm Wind in DOUGLAS, MINNESOTA
From 11-JUL-17 22:52:00 to 11-JUL-17 22:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: (AXN)CHNDLR FLD ALXN
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

There were numerous trees blown down in the city of Alexandria.

Thunderstorm Wind in MILLE LACS, MINNESOTA
From 12-JUL-17 00:30:00 to 12-JUL-17 00:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PAGE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A large pine tree was blown down north of Page.

Hail in MILLE LACS, MINNESOTA
From 12-JUL-17 00:26:00 to 12-JUL-17 00:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: ONAMIA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Tornado in ANOKA, MINNESOTA
From 12-JUL-17 01:20:00 to 12-JUL-17 01:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: EAST BETHEL
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado touched down in East Bethel, along 225th Ave NE and just east of Highway 65.  It moved southeast, crossing the northern part of Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area, and exited the county in the northeast corner of Columbus. Numerous trees were downed, with some hitting houses, sheds and vehicles.  The wind also took some siding off a house and dented a garage door. After exiting Anoka County, it moved across the far southwest part of Chisago County, where it dissipated.

Tornado in CHISAGO, MINNESOTA
From 12-JUL-17 01:39:00 to 12-JUL-17 01:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: LINDSTROM
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A brief tornado hit three properties, knocking down dozens of trees and collapsing a barn.

Tornado in CHISAGO, MINNESOTA
From 12-JUL-17 01:32:00 to 12-JUL-17 01:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: WYOMING
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

After exiting Anoka County, the tornado clipped the southwest part of Chisago County, downing over 100 trees. The tornado did take some tin off the roof of a shed.  It dissipated just before reaching Washington County, where the collapsing storm produced widespread downburst damage in and around Forest Lake.

Thunderstorm Wind in ANOKA, MINNESOTA
From 12-JUL-17 01:25:00 to 12-JUL-17 01:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: EAST BETHEL
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several dozen trees were broken or toppled in a neighborhood on the west side of Coon Lake in East Bethel. Some trees landed on homes, sheds and vehicles.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 12-JUL-17 01:34:00 to 12-JUL-17 01:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: FOREST LAKE
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A storm survey determined that the damage across Forest Lake was due to a downburst that occurred after a tornado dissipated in far southwest Chisago County. The tornado damage had been narrow, but the downburst damage broadened into a 2.5 mile wide swath as winds toppled trees, starting just west of North Shore Drive (just north of downtown Forest Lake), and continuing southeast, knocking down trees and causing other damage on both the north and south sides of the lake, all the way to what is referred to as third lake, or the southeastern portion of the lake Forest Lake.

Tornado in ANOKA, MINNESOTA
From 12-JUL-17 01:27:00 to 12-JUL-17 01:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: COLUMBUS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado touched down in the southern part of Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area, not quite one mile east-southeast of the intersection of Lexington Ave and Constance Blvd.  It downed hundreds of trees, some falling on homes, sheds and vehicles.  The tornado destroyed the attached garage of one home, shingles were partially removed from two houses, and a large garage had one of its doors dented in, thereby allowing wind inside the structure, resulting in the bowing out of an opposing wall.  The tornado exited Anoka County just to the northeast of the junction of Interstates 35E and 35W in Columbus.

Thunderstorm Wind in ANOKA, MINNESOTA
From 12-JUL-17 01:26:00 to 12-JUL-17 01:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: LINWOOD
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several dozen trees were broken or toppled in a neighborhood on the south side of upper Coon Lake in East Bethel. Some trees landed on homes, sheds and vehicles.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 12-JUL-17 01:40:00 to 12-JUL-17 01:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: SCANDIA
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A storm survey in Scandia, together with reports from Public Works, noted dozens of trees scattered across the entire city of Scandia. Most of the downed trees were in the northern portion of the city, from Kirk Ave N to Parrish Rd.

Hail in DOUGLAS, MINNESOTA
From 11-JUL-17 22:51:00 to 11-JUL-17 22:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRANDON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Tornado in WASHINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 12-JUL-17 01:33:00 to 12-JUL-17 01:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: FOREST LAKE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

After exiting Anoka County just northeast of the junction of Interstates 35E and 35W in Columbus, the tornado continued across the far southwestern part of the city of Forest Lake, where it downed numerous trees and hit one farm. It dissipated about one mile east of Horseshoe Lake in the far northern portion of Hugo.

Tornado in WASHINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 12-JUL-17 01:41:00 to 12-JUL-17 01:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARINE ON ST CROIX
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado damaged over 1000 trees at the Warner Nature Center. Hundreds of trees were also damaged before it hit the Nature Center. The tornado dissipated shortly after exiting the Nature Center.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAC QUI PARLE, MINNESOTA
From 11-JUL-17 22:05:00 to 11-JUL-17 22:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: BELLINGHAM
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several large trees and power lines were blown down around Bellingham. There was also damage to a local garage.