Bulk of Monday storms have passed; some damage reported in southern Minnesota

Strong storms across Minnesota, Wisconsin

A line of severe storms came and went Monday, generating plenty of activity in southern Minnesota while leaving the Twin Cities unscathed.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS Meteorologist Jonathan Yuhas went storm chasing and spotted a possible tornado along Interstate 35 near Owatonna.

Meteorologist Jonathan Yuhas spots possible tornado near Owatonna

Meteorologist Jonathan Yuhas spots possible tornado near Owatonna

Our cameras also captured a barn that had been destroyed between Faribault and Kenyon in Rice County. The National Weather Service will determine whether a tornado was the cause.

A barn is destroyed in rural Rice County after severe storms blew through the area on Monday, April 28, 2025. (KSTP)

A family member of the owner of the barn in Rice County told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that everyone is OK.

“It’s like dealing with a wild animal, it’s like you’re out in the wilderness and something’s coming at you,” Harold Dols told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS as he and his son weathered the storm at a gas station in Owatonna. 

The National Weather Service says it received at least two reports of an observed tornado near Fairmont, just north of the Iowa border in southern Minnesota.

A tornado was also reported to have touched down near Eau Claire, Wis. A person who witnessed the storm shared on Facebook that it ripped a windshield wiper off their car.

A cold front is still pushing across the state Monday night, and some isolated storms could pop up in western and central Minnesota through 10 p.m. It’s unlikely those storms will reach the metro.


The Storm Prediction Center continues to have the Twin Cities, southeast Minnesota, and western Wisconsin in a moderate risk (level 4 of 5) for severe weather this afternoon and evening. Central and western Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin are in an enhanced risk (level 3 of 5).

This second round of storms is likely to develop in western Minnesota between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. today. As they move east, damaging winds, big hail, and tornadoes are possible.

In the Twin Cities, the current window for storms is between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. today. It will not be raining this whole time, but this is when you need to be weather aware.

Late in the day, winds get stronger, and could help the storms spin quicker. This could lead to long-lived, strong tornadoes in southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin — including the Twin Cities.

You are not guaranteed to see a severe storm today. However, any storms that form could be especially strong.

The storms enter northwest Wisconsin after 7 p.m. and should end by 11 p.m.

The best thing you can do right now is review your severe weather safety plan. Have several ways to get severe weather information this afternoon and evening. You also need to know where your tornado safe place is at home and at work.

If this sounds unsettling or scary, that’s normal. But I want you to remember: The meteorologists of Minnesota’s Weather Authority and the National Weather Service will work together to keep you as safe as possible on Monday. Severe weather safety is a group effort.

Remember, just because big storms are possible, it does not guarantee a storm over your house. Some people could see nasty storms later today, and some people might see nothing. This is why you need to be prepared and have a severe weather safety plan.

Click here for the latest weather updates from Minnesota’s Weather Authority.

Minnesota’s Weather Authority maintains a forecast first alert throughout the evening.