Radar image showing thew storm just entering Grantsburg in Burnett County.

Yesterday was quite and active and even scary day for Much of Minnesota, and Wisconsin, as Tornadic Thunderstorms developed across much of the region. Including one that hit part of Burnett County.

Scary-looking Mammatus Clouds pass overhead my house as a Tornadic thunderstorm passed to my Northwest June 17th 2010

All of the Severe Weather in our area has been centered over Western Burnett County, in the Grantsburg area, where a tornado was reported across several locations. Following the storm that hit this area, Thunderstorms first exploded over Central Minnesota in the afternoon, Many tornado’s were reported West of the Twin Cities Metropolitan, the storms weakened some as they moved NE north of the Metro, but then strengthened as they approached western Burnett County, This storm dropped a tornado about 7 Southwest of Grantsburg, on the Minnesota side of the St Croix River, This storm was rated a EF1, which did some significant damage about a half mile west of the Wisconsin state line on Highway 70, the damage was severe enough that the highway had to be closed for a time Thursday night. This tornado continued Northeast, and passed just to the west of Grantsburg, Thankfully just missing the populated areas of the Village of Grantsburg, The tornado dissipated about 2 miles NW of Grantsburg, but the storm continued to produce damage as it moved Northeast, the radar at this time was picking up some pretty strong rotation, Damage was reported in the small community of Yellow Lake, which is just north of Webster, 2 people were injured in Minnesota, but thankfully, no one was killed.

This tornado came as a very scary reminder to the people of Burnett County, because it hit one day before the 9 year anniversary of the June 18 2001 Siren tornado, which produced significant damage in Siren.

At 9:18PM as I sat next to my computer covering the storm on my blog, we had a complete power failure, A sign that the storm up in Burentt County was doing significant power line damage. I picked up Trace of rain yesterday from light thunderstorms.


NWS Damage Reports so far.

5 Miles W of Grantsburg in Minnesota. Tornado Crossed Highway 70 a half mile from the Wisconsin State line, Highway 70 is closed due to debris on the road.

5 Miles S of Grantsburg, Funnel rotating up and down, but no debris visible.

3 Miles W of Grantsburg, Power lines down, and damage to a house near Grantsburg on highway 70, likely tornado damage.

2 Miles ENE of Grantsburg, observed tornado, the tornado blew some large branches and threw some small derbies a couple hundred yards

6 Miles WNW of Webb Lake, Tornado on the ground near Staples Lake Road.