A powerful storm system that developed across the northern plains Monday, March 6th, produced a swath of large hail and some damaging wind gusts from central Minnesota, southward into the central plains. Three tornadoes were confirmed in east central and southern Minnesota. One near Bricelyn, another near Clarks Grove, and one more near Zimmerman.
The air mass was unusually mild for early March and it moved northward ahead of a strong cold front that went from western, to eastern Minnesota during the afternoon and early evening hours. Dew points rose into the 50s which is very rare for early March ahead of this cold front. In addition, wind shear was very strong which provided the ample source of severe thunderstorm development and organization.
Once thunderstorms developed, strong to severe storms developed quickly and produced large hail near Redwood Falls. Other severe thunderstorm developed northeast of Redwood Falls, to near Hutchinson, and produced a cluster of severe hail reports from Hutchinson, to Dassel, Cokato, and west of the Twin Cities area. Several other storms developed north of St. Cloud and produced quarter size hail near Rice.
The cluster of strong to severe storms that were west of the Twin Cities, produced one tornadic storm near Zimmerman, and moved northward toward Princeton. A storm team confirmed an EF1 tornado produced the damage west of Zimmerman.  Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in the path of this tornado, including roof damage to several homes.
Another area of severe thunderstorms developed in northern Iowa and moved into south central Minnesota. It produced an EF1 tornado in eastern Faribault County, with a swath of large hail from southeast of Blue Earth, northeast toward Albert Lea, and then to Cannon Falls. Another storm became tornadic near Clarks Grove which also produced an EF1 tornado. These storms moved into parts of west central Wisconsin and produced strong winds and hail but no notable damage.

Hail in SHERBURNE, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 17:50:00 to 06-MAR-17 17:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRINCETON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail in RICE, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 17:59:00 to 06-MAR-17 17:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: FARIBAULT
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in REDWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 15:40:00 to 06-MAR-17 15:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: REDWOOD FALLS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail in REDWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 15:35:00 to 06-MAR-17 15:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: WABASSO
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Hail in MORRISON, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 16:48:00 to 06-MAR-17 16:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: BUCKMAN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MEEKER, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 16:42:00 to 06-MAR-17 16:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: DASSEL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 16:57:00 to 06-MAR-17 17:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: FROST
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A swath of large hail, up to ping pong size, fell along the Iowa, Minnesota border south of Frost, northeast to north of Bricelyn.

Hail in WRIGHT, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 17:18:00 to 06-MAR-17 17:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: SILVER CREEK
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A swath of large hail, up to golf ball size, fell west and northwest of Monticello. Some damage to cars was also reported.

Hail in FREEBORN, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 17:20:00 to 06-MAR-17 17:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: CONGER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in WRIGHT, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 17:22:00 to 06-MAR-17 17:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALBION CENTER
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail in WRIGHT, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 17:44:00 to 06-MAR-17 17:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: MONTICELLO
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Hail in ISANTI, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 18:05:00 to 06-MAR-17 18:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: DALBO
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in WASHINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 22:09:00 to 06-MAR-17 22:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST PAUL PARK
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in GOODHUE, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 18:25:00 to 06-MAR-17 18:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANNON FALLS
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A few trees were blown down across the road east of Cannon Falls.

Thunderstorm Wind in MORRISON, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 17:06:00 to 06-MAR-17 17:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: PIERZ
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Tornado in SHERBURNE, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 17:39:00 to 06-MAR-17 17:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: ORROCK
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A NWS storm survey concluded that an EF-1 tornado touched down about 5 miles west of Zimmerman and traveled northeast 8.8 miles, dissipating before reaching Highway 169.  The storm also produced non-tornadic scattered tree damage due to strong inflow into the storm in a few locations, including on the east side of Highway 169, just south of Princeton. The tornado had a width of 300 yards, and maximum winds of 110 mph.

Hail in REDWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 15:45:00 to 06-MAR-17 15:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: REDWOOD FALLS
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several reports of large hail occurred from south of Redwood Falls, north-northeast toward the Renville County line. The largest hail stone was 2 inches in diameter. There was damage to local vehicles and vinyl siding due to the hail.

Hail in MORRISON, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 16:34:00 to 06-MAR-17 16:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROYALTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A swath of large hail, up to quarter size, fell east of Royalton, to southwest of Buckman.

Hail in RENVILLE, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 15:51:00 to 06-MAR-17 15:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: MORTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

A swath of large hail, up to quarter size, fell from the Renville, and Redwood County line, then northeast past the town of Morton.

Hail in MORRISON, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 16:05:00 to 06-MAR-17 16:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROYALTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 16:25:00 to 06-MAR-17 16:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: OPOLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A swath of large hail, up to nickel size fell north of St. Stephen.

Hail in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 16:45:00 to 06-MAR-17 16:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST STEPHEN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tornado in FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 17:04:00 to 06-MAR-17 17:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRICELYN
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A NWS storm survey indicated that a EF1 tornado touched down just northwest of Bricelyn, and moved northeast, damaging a campground at Rice Lake, then it moved just north of I-90 before lifting. Several camper trailers were overturned or lofted, numerous trees were uprooted or broken, several sheds were damaged, and one barn collapsed.

Hail in WRIGHT, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 16:45:00 to 06-MAR-17 16:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: STOCKHOLM
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Several reports of large hail, up to golf ball size, fell near the McLeod, and Wright County line,  northeast to Cokato and then northeast of Cokato.

Hail in MCLEOD, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 16:38:00 to 06-MAR-17 16:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUTCHINSON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

A swath of large hail, up to quarter size, fell from Hutchinson, northeast to the Meeker County line. Almost all of the hail was dime size or smaller.

Hail in BENTON, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 16:28:00 to 06-MAR-17 16:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: RICE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A swath of large hail, up to quarter size, fell near Rice, and northeast of Rice to the Morrison County line. Almost all of the hail was dime size or smaller.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHERBURNE, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 17:56:00 to 06-MAR-17 17:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRINCETON
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Large trees were blown down along Highway 169, in Princeton. This was associated with the secondary downburst from the previous tornado in northeast Sherburne County.

Tornado in FREEBORN, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 17:38:00 to 06-MAR-17 17:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: BANCROFT
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A NWS storm survey concluded that an EF-1 tornado started in Freeborn County, MN and traveled 9.7 miles through the towns of Clarks Grove and Geneva before crossing the Steele County line (where it would produce EF-0 damage).  It first moved north-northeast, and then about one mile north of Clarks Grove, it turned more to the northeast and hit the southern and eastern sides of Geneva.  Peak winds were estimated at about 100 mph, which caused damage to homes, buildings, and trees.

Hail in SHERBURNE, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 17:32:00 to 06-MAR-17 17:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: BECKER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Large hail was reported northeast of Becker. Almost all of the hail was dime or smaller.

Tornado in STEELE, MINNESOTA
From 06-MAR-17 17:49:00 to 06-MAR-17 17:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELLENDALE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This is a continuation of the Freeborn County tornado that moved into Steele County for approximately 2.2 miles before lifting. In Freeborn County, it was rated EF-1, but in Steele County, it produced EF-0 damage to trees and farm outbuildings. Peak winds in Steele County were estimated at 80 mph.