Power Outage in Minneapolis, KS

Widespread damage occurred early Thursday morning across Minneapolis including: large tree trunks uprooted, tree trunks snapped, snapped power poles, a roof torn off a church, and window screens blown off the courthouse. After analysis of radar data, first-hand accounts and pictures, we conclude that straight-line winds of 95 mph produced this damage.

Report of part of large healthy tree blown down and onto the power lines which caused a power outage.

Power lines and transformer blown down.

Report of several downed power poles between Tescott and Culver.

Numerous reports of snapped trees and power lines.

Reports including photos from social media show ice accumulation on tree limbs and power lines to between one quarter and one half inch across the county.

Delayed report, at least 5 power poles down, possibly more.

Tree limbs and power lines down in the town.

The sheriff reported a power line down from strong winds in Minneapolis.

A localized downburst blew over 4 trees and several powerlines down on the south side of Minneapolis, Kansas.

Power poles were down near US 81 and Ivy Road.

Power poles were down near K106 and 170th Road near Minneapolis.

Numerous reports of a well formed stove-pipe tornado were received as the storm crossed the Saline/Ottawa County line. The storm was also watched on live TV at the office via storm chaser cameras. The tornado was very well formed and was likely very strong; however, it did not impact many structures so the subsequent rating was EF-1. The extent of the damage was to a gas transfer station along K-18 near Solomon Road in rural Ottawa County. Near the station some power poles were snapped and laying across the roadway. Aside from the gas transfer station a few farmsteads were impacted, with the main damage being some damaged outbuildings. The tornado crossed the Ottawa/Dickinson County line near Barn Road and 3200 Road, and eventually dissipated in an open field in near Manchester.

Numerous reports of a well formed stove-pipe tornado were received as the storm crossed the Saline/Ottawa County line. The storm was also watched on live TV at the office via storm chaser cameras. The tornado was very well formed and was likely very strong; however, it did not impact many structures so the subsequent rating was EF-1. The extent of the damage was to a gas transfer station along K-18 near Solomon Road in rural Ottawa County. Near the station some power poles were snapped and laying across the roadway. Aside from the gas transfer station a few farmsteads were impacted, with the main damage being some damaged outbuildings. The tornado crossed the Ottawa/Dickinson County line near Barn Road and 3200 Road, and eventually dissipated in an open field in near Manchester.

Power is out across Minneapolis.

One half of an inch to three quarters of an inch of ice was reported to have coated surfaces across the county. Downed power line reports began only approximately 6 hours after precipitation began in the county. Some residents of Tescott and Bennington reported power outages. Broken tree limbs littered the town of Minneapolis. An emergency shelter was opened in Minneapolis.

Strong sustained pre-frontal winds caused at least one large branch in Minneapolis to fall onto a resident's deck, driveway, and pickup truck. The branch also took out a power line. The Concordia ASOS at 11am recorded a 36mph sustained wind, with gusts up to 45mph.

Power lines reported down in the city of Minneapolis. Sustained winds estimated to be around 35mph for several hours during the afternoon, with gusts up to nearly 60 mph.

Report of at least one roof lost off of a residence. Numerous trees and power poles blocking Hwy 106 near it's intersection with Hwy 81.

A power pole and power lines reported down.

This tornado started just across the border in Saline County and crossed the border into Ottawa County 3 miles east-southeast of Niles at 2:54pm cst . It was on the ground for 2.5 miles before lifting 3 miles east of Niles at 2:57pm cst. It was 200 yards wide. The F0 tornado knocked down 4 power poles and was caused by a supercell thunderstorm.

Strong winds broke off 3 power poles.

Strong winds blew down tree limbs onto power lines and knocked out power for a time. The tree limbs were reported to be 6 to 8 inches in diameter.