PHOTOS: Storm damage reported throughout Twin Cities metro, 1 dead in crash involving power lines

Krystal Frasier KSTP

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Chances are, you saw storm damage after waking up Thursday morning if you live anywhere near the Twin Cities metro area.

Powerful storms that activated tornado warnings and sirens moved through the region late Wednesday night, causing damage to much of the area, and thousands were left without power.

Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed an EF0 tornado touched down in Coon Rapids.

A damage survey concluded that an EF0 tornado occurred on the northeast side of Coon Rapids, MN at 8:27pm Wednesday evening. Maximum winds were 80mph; width was about 50 yards; and path length was approximately 3 miles. #mnwx
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) May 12, 2022

A cleanup effort will begin Thursday after wind, rain and hail moved through the metro between 7:30 and 9 p.m. Wednesday.

A tornado warning was in effect until 10 p.m. for parts of Goodhue, Pepin and Pierce Counties. Before that, a tornado warning was given for southeastern Blue Earth County and Waseca County until 9:15 p.m.

A pine tree in the front yard of a Brooklyn Center home. Credit: KSTP/Jeff Ernewein

Specifically in the metro, a tornado warning was in effect until 9 p.m. for Northeastern Hennepin County, southeastern Anoka County as well as northern Ramsey County shortly before 8:30 p.m. Western Dakota County was also under the warning. The all clear was given for the Twin Cities metro shortly after 9 p.m.

Storm reports around the Twin Cities metro area from Wednesday, May 11. Credit: KSTP

According to the NWS, wind speeds reached 77mph in Shakopee – faster than the posted highway speed limit.

Flooded cars could be seen in Vadnais Heights near Edgerton Street near Vadnais Lake. Thursday morning, a handful of vehicles could be seen in water nearby.

The damage also extended to the southwest portion of the state near New Ulm, where there was a report of a tornado.

Authorities say a multi-vehicle crash in Nobles County involving fallen wire lines killed one and severely injured another.

According to a Minnesota State Patrol incident report, three vehicles – identified as a Pontiac G6, a Freightliner Cascadia and a Chevrolet Hatchback – were headed east on I-90.

Due to the storm, power lines had fallen over the interstate, and the State Patrol says the Chevrolet stopped to avoid hitting wires. That’s when the Freightliner collided with the Chevrolet, and the Pontiac hit the wires.

The State Patrol says four people were in the Hatchback. The driver, identified as a 37-year-old from Chile and a passenger, identified as a 33-year-old who is also from Chile, received non-life threatening injuries. Another passenger, listed as a 42-year-old Annapolis, Maryland man, was taken to Worthington Hospital for life threatening injuries. A third passenger, identified as 30-year-old Martha Lilian Llanos Rodriguez from Mexico City, died in the crash.

According to the Associated Press, one of the individuals in the vehicle said he and the other three weather specialists came to to know each other through professional conferences and courses.

Meanwhile, the State Patrol says the driver of the Pontiac, a 23-year-old South Dakota man, received non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Freightliner, who was from Canada, was not injured, according to the incident report.

Storm reports from across the state of Minnesota and other parts of the Upper Midwest region from Wednesday, May 11. Credit: KSTP

Viewers have submitted photos and videos of the storm system moving through South St. Paul and Apple Valley.

Check back for updates as more damage reports are provided by the National Weather Service.

If you have storm damage you’d like to share with us, CLICK HERE to submit a video or photo. Check out our gallery of viewer submitted photos and videos below.