Xcel Energy Almost Done Restoring Power After Storms
Almost all of the 250,000 Xcel Energy customers who lost service early Saturday morning during severe storms have now had their power restored.
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Almost all of the 250,000 Xcel Energy customers who lost service early Saturday morning during severe storms have now had their power restored.
Xcel Energy says the number of Minnesota customers still without electricity after a weekend storm continues to shrink. A company spokeswoman says as of about 10 p.m. Sunday, the number of customers without service was down to about 5,400 around Twin Cities metro area.
It was a busy day of clean up for residents all over the metro. Thousands were without power for hours, and many residents saw boats, houses or cars ruined.
Gov. Mark Dayton plans to visit the Brainerd Lakes area on Friday to survey the damage caused by Sunday's severe thunderstorms. The clean-up still continues after winds up to 80 miles per hour toppled trees and damaged properties.
Forecasters say at least four unconfirmed tornadoes may have touched down in western Minnesota when strong storms moved through the state. There will be a big cleanup in the Brainerd Lakes area because of a number of big trees coming down during Monday night's storm.
Severe thunderstorms are rolling across Minnesota Sunday night, and the Brainerd/Baxter area appears to be one of the communities hit hard early on. A dispatcher with the Brainerd Police Department said there are several reports of trees and power lines down in the city.
A hot and humid Sunday will be followed by evening severe storms. Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says Minnesotans are seeing the highest threat for severe weather this year, with the possibility of tornadoes, damaging winds and hail.
Persistent rains are bringing flood warnings for some western Wisconsin counties. Chippewa, Dunn and northern Eau Claire counties are all under flood watches this morning after 2 to 4 inches of rain fell in some areas.
WCCO Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says our Monday will start out with sun and it will definitely feel steamy with dew points in the low to middle 60s. That sets up the potential for storms to develop late Monday afternoon and into the early evening hours.
Thousands of Twin Cities residents are without power Tuesday evening. Xcel Energy says about 5,000 people are affected in the South St. Paul area, and about 2,000 around northeast Minneapolis.
A bus driver was hurt late Saturday night after his vehicle got stuck in high water after heavy rain came through central Minnesota, according to the Stearns County Sheriff's Office.
The National Weather Service says a trained spotter reported a tornado touchdown just after 4:30 p.m. Saturday near Montevideo. Law enforcement reported part of a roof blow off a building at a farmstead about seven miles north of Montevideo.
Assessment crews have been dispatched to gauge the damage caused by a tornado that tore through a central Iowa town, uprooting trees, ripping apart the roof of the local high school and leaving shreds of pink insulation strewn throughout the streets.
Fifty years ago this Wednesday evening, Dick Chapman and Charlie Boone spent six straight hours taking calls from people and, using a map and a pen, tracked the storm as it tore across the Twin Cities.
Fifty years ago this Wednesday, the Twin Cities were ravaged by a series of tornadoes that struck the northwestern metro area. No fewer than six tornadoes touched down as the storm system moved through, some of them on the ground simultaneously.
High winds are affecting a wide stretch of the upper Midwest, from Minnesota to western Pennsylvania. The National Weather Service says sustained winds Tuesday afternoon will top 30 mph, with gusts reaching 45 to 50 mph.
Tornadoes, thunderstorms and damaging hail. Minnesota gets its fair share of severe weather. That's why the state is observing Sever Weather Awareness week.
It's Severe Weather Awareness Week in Minnesota and Wisconsin. When storms hit, people can lose power and cell service. That's where some hi-tech portable equipment comes in to play.
The WCCO Weather Watcher is now flashing green, which means that there could be severe storms coming to your scene. Already on Wednesday, some parts of the state saw significant rains as a line of severe storms rolled through the center of the state.
Residents in parts of northern Minnesota are cleaning up Tuesday after severe storms swept through the area late Monday night. The Aitkin County Sheriff's Office said that the area of McGregor was hit hard, particularly the Eagle Point Camp Ground on Big Sandy Lake.
If you live in the southern Twin Cities metropolitan area, you may have heard the sirens go off. There were several reports of a funnel cloud in the sky. A number of viewers reported seeing funnel clouds at around 1 p.m.
Gov. Mark Dayton visited the southernmost parts of Minnesota Friday afternoon. Areas like Rock County are flooded and damaged after massive amounts of rain fell during the week. Early damage estimates in Rock County are at $3.5 million and the county is 40 percent under water.
The Mankato area was hit hard by flash flooding Wednesday morning, and on Thursday morning the Twin Cities was getting its turn. Thunderstorms with lightning and very heavy rain raced through the metro early Thursday morning, flooding roads and causing traffic problems.
More waves of heavy rain and severe storms rumbled into Minnesota on Monday on top of damaging storms that drenched the state over the weekend, prompting Gov. Mark Dayton to cancel a planned visit to view flood damage in the southwest corner of the state.
Hundreds of power line workers have restored service to most of the 106,000 Xcel Energy customers who went down in weekend storms. All but a couple hundred customers had power by Monday morning.
Thursday morning's commute was tough for some on Minneapolis' Highway 62. Liquid manure covered a section of the road. The Minnesota State Patrol says it was "inches deep" in both lanes.
Several agencies are investigating after a man was fatally struck by a train Friday night, according to Anoka County, Minnesota, officials.
The Minnesota Twins managed only two hits in a 2-0 loss to the Athletics on Friday night.
A family is mourning a man killed on the job. Police said he was fatally stabbed while working at an adult foster home in Cold Spring last month.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been taking people they detain in Minnesota to the Whipple Federal Building for processing. On Friday, members of Congress were there for an oversight visit.
Thursday morning's commute was tough for some on Minneapolis' Highway 62. Liquid manure covered a section of the road. The Minnesota State Patrol says it was "inches deep" in both lanes.
Several agencies are investigating after a man was fatally struck by a train Friday night, according to Anoka County, Minnesota, officials.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been taking people they detain in Minnesota to the Whipple Federal Building for processing. On Friday, members of Congress were there for an oversight visit.
Two kids were just feet away from a life-altering crash while riding on an e-moto. It happened along Highway 169 where it intersects with 114th Avenue.
A St. Paul, Minnesota, homeowner says he's reached a tipping point when it comes to frustration after police told him they'd closed their investigation into a hit-and-run on his property.
A family is mourning a man killed on the job. Police said he was fatally stabbed while working at an adult foster home in Cold Spring last month.
A woman who started an online fundraiser that garnered hundreds of thousands of dollars after she called a child with autism racial slurs at a southern Minnesota park has been convicted of a misdemeanor.
Portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness will reopen for day use starting Monday, after wildfires prompted a rare closure of the forest last week.
It's another action-packed weekend in Minnesota, with plenty of community celebrations.
Thousands of pictures of Split Rock Lighthouse are taken each year. And oftentimes a little island appears in those photos. Ellingsen Island has developed a following of its own.
A new lawsuit argues that Wisconsin's elections commission is wrongly blocking absentee voters from canceling their ballots and requesting new ones, with nearly 91,000 ballots already returned ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.
Madison, Wisconsin remains one of the only cities of its size without a police body camera program, leaving key moments of a fatal officer-involved shooting unrecorded.
The state Democratic Party is asking Wisconsin's elections commission to allow voters who already returned absentee ballots to cast new ones, after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out of the governor's race and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley rejoined it.
The effects of Minnesota's prolonged heat wave are becoming impossible to miss with several reports of fish kills.
Three new women's world records have been set at the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin.
After officials in Minnesota's capital city announced they would shut down encampments for those experiencing homelessness, the City Council approved more than $1 million to expand capacity at local shelters.
The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, is taking a stand and closing encampments amid growing concerns.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
Tucked away in the Midway neighborhood in St. Paul is a community treasure many have come to love and respect.
What started as a small fundraiser following one of Joe's surgeries at Gillette Children's has grown into a community tradition that has raised nearly $100,000 for the hospital.
Anton Lazzaro was sentenced in 2023 to 21 years in prison in the sex trafficking case. Records from the Office of the Pardon Attorney show he requested a commutation in 2025. Mr. Trump denied the request on July 10.
President Trump cracked jokes at the redo of the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Friday night, after an armed assailant upended April's dinner.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has purchased commercial spyware that can covertly take control of phones, collect messages, photos and location information.
A new lawsuit argues that Wisconsin's elections commission is wrongly blocking absentee voters from canceling their ballots and requesting new ones, with nearly 91,000 ballots already returned ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.
President Trump says he's considering a "bigger than ever before" attack on Iran after 13 straight days of military strikes.
Get ready to watch movies and television with clarity like never before. That's how industry experts are describing the latest TV technology now on sale exclusively at Best Buy.
A lottery player in Minnesota won a jackpot of more than $34 million last week, a record for the Lotto America game in the state.
The lawsuit accuses Loon of using "kid-friendly characters" to promote its vapes in flavors such as Cotton Candy, Strawberry Popsicle, Banana Taffy and Blue Razz Slushy.
A Wisconsin family lost their ten-month-old daughter after she swallowed a water bead. They blame Target and the water bead manufacturer for her death.
For many Minnesotans, the road to the Fourth of July starts with a short drive across the St. Croix River to Wisconsin to stock up on fireworks. The kinds of pyrotechnics that can be legally ignited in Minnesota might be surprising.
Anton Lazzaro was sentenced in 2023 to 21 years in prison in the sex trafficking case. Records from the Office of the Pardon Attorney show he requested a commutation in 2025. Mr. Trump denied the request on July 10.
A Melvindale man faces federal charges over threats to kill ICE agents and other law enforcement officers, the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of Michigan said.
Four people arrested in connection with a hit-and-run in Farmington, Minnesota, that killed a 13-year-old boy will be released without charges, officials say, though the investigation continues.
A Hennepin County judge dismissed theft by swindle charges against Harding Smith, ruling the state caused an unnecessary delay of his trial, while allowing a separate charge against his nonprofit to proceed.
A woman who started an online fundraiser that garnered hundreds of thousands of dollars after she called a child with autism racial slurs at a southern Minnesota park has been convicted of a misdemeanor.
The CDC will not renew a federal grant that provided the Aliveness Project roughly $450,000 a year for HIV testing, PrEP referrals and community outreach across Minnesota.
Here's how weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy could reduce worker illness and save companies money.
There are new accusations surrounding pollution problems at a battery recycling plant in Minnesota. An attorney says lead migration from Gopher Resource in Eagan poisoned some kids connected to workers.
Taylor Farms said none of its branded salads or kits contain the iceberg lettuce associated with the outbreak.
The advice is to stay inside when air quality turns hazardous, but that's not an option for many outdoor workers.
Paramount Skydance on Friday said it would delay the deal until as late as June 2027.
It's another action-packed weekend in Minnesota, with plenty of community celebrations.
This weekend, a Twin Cities theater company will be performing "Dear Evan Hansen," a musical that deals with themes of anxiety, depression and isolation. But they also feel it relates to what Minneapolis went through during Operation Metro Surge.
The ruling comes after a coalition of 12 states sued to block the deal, arguing it would harm consumers and the entertainment industry.
The Minnesota Yacht Club Festival is expected to bring thousands upon thousands each day to Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul between Friday and Sunday.
The Minnesota Twins managed only two hits in a 2-0 loss to the Athletics on Friday night.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office said Romo was pulled over around 6 p.m. on Thursday.
The Sixers' wild offseason continued Friday when they added four-time NBA champion LeBron James.
Trevor Larnach and Luke Keaschall both delivered two-out RBI singles in the 12th inning, giving the Minnesota Twins a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians and a split of their four-game series.
Thousands of fans descended Thursday on TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, eager to see some of the world's best golfers up close at the 3M Open, including Scottie Scheffler — the world's top-ranked player.
Secretary of State Steve Simon says federal observers at the Aug. 11 primary will most likely be Justice Department attorneys, not immigration or border enforcement agents.
The investigations into the ICE killings of Renee Good, Alex Pretti and the shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celishave entered a critical stage.
The investigations into the ICE killings of Renee Good, Alex Pretti and the shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis have entered a critical stage.
There's less than a month to go before the Aug. 11 primary, and one of the most watched and competitive races is the DFL race for the nomination for U.S. Senate between Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig.
New campaign finance numbers are expected out later this week in federal races, including Minnesota's U.S. Senate race, where a flood of ads is evidence of a highly competitive race.
Thousands of pictures of Split Rock Lighthouse are taken each year. And oftentimes a little island appears in those photos. Ellingsen Island has developed a following of its own.
There's a scenic, nearly century-old spot in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where right now you'll find thousands of flowers in bloom.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
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The U.S. House just voted to make daylight saving time permanent. In Good Question, Jeff Wagner explains how that could impact Minnesota and why our last attempt at getting rid of it failed.
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When you get home from work in the evening, your first thought may be dinner. You might fire up the stove or oven, you could also start a load of laundry. Not long after that, you're running the dishwasher. You may think you're being efficient, but your house during this heat wave disagrees.
It's one of Minnesota's rules of the road in which two is better than one. But Jodi from Lakeville emailed WCCO saying a lot of drivers don't seem to care about the law.
Catching a flight with just a carry-on can make travel feel easy. No need to check a bag and all your belongings stay with you. But quite often, that suddenly changes before boarding.
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From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
The heat and humidity has returned. Feels like temperatures on Saturday will get into the triple digits, while high temps will be in the low 90s. Sunday will feel similar. Sunday also comes with a severe weather alert. Meteorologist Katie Steiner shares what you need to know for the next 48 hours.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
WCCO has issued a NEXT Weather Alert for Saturday and Sunday due to extreme heat in parts of central and southern Minnesota on both days.
Storms are moving through northern Minnesota Friday evening ahead of a hot weekend in the state, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Mike Augustyniak.
There is a NEXT Weather Alert for both weekend days, as temps will reach the mid-90s and peak heat indices will be around 105°, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
In the market for some new pottery? The Minnesota Pottery Festival runs through tomorrow.
Panda fest is returning to the Mall of America.
The heat and humidity has returned. Feels like temperatures on Saturday will get into the triple digits, while high temps will be in the low 90s. Sunday will feel similar. Sunday also comes with a severe weather alert. Meteorologist Katie Steiner shares what you need to know for the next 48 hours.
WCCO's Adam Duxter updates on the news of the day.
WCCO has issued a NEXT Weather Alert for Saturday and Sunday due to extreme heat in parts of central and southern Minnesota on both days.