Tornado watch canceled for southeastern Minnesota after damaging storms move out

The severe weather threat is over for southeastern Minnesota on Friday, just hours after a string of tornado touchdowns earlier in the afternoon.

There were reports of an observed tornado in the Rochester area near the airport, according to WCCO Meteorologist Lisa Meadows.

The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office says a temporary shelter has been established for those impacted by the storm at Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester, adding that public safety officials are securing the area and going door-to-door to assess damages. So far, no injuries have been reported.

The National Weather Service says it will be sending teams to survey the damage in southeastern Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin on Saturday.

The storm also knocked out power for more than 3,000 people, according to People's Energy Cooperative. Over 500 are still without power as of Friday night.

Though the metro was not in the path of the severe weather Friday, the Twin Cities still saw some pea-sized hail in the afternoon. 

Temperatures peaked around 70 degrees at lunchtime, but will drop into the 30s and 40s by the end of the day. Winds will remain gusty.

Saturday will start much colder, with temperatures in the low 30s, and top out in the low 40s. Breezy winds will keep wind chills in the 30s under a mix of clouds and sun.

Expect more sunshine Sunday. Temperatures will warm back into the 70s next week amid a quiet stretch.