ROCHESTER, Minnesota — Multiple tornadoes struck parts of southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Friday, causing widespread structural damage but no reported injuries, the National Weather Service said.
The National Weather Service office in La Crosse, Wisconsin, confirmed at least seven tornadoes touched down during severe thunderstorms that moved through the region on April 17. An EF2 tornado was among those verified near Stewartville in Olmsted County, Minnesota, around 2:12 p.m. CDT.
Preliminary surveys indicated additional tornadoes in the area north of Interstate 90, with supercell thunderstorms producing the twisters as they tracked eastward. In western Wisconsin, damage was reported from several tornadoes, including one rated EF3 near Cream in Buffalo County that reached estimated winds of about 140 mph and traveled roughly eight miles, according to NWS assessments.
The storms developed in the early afternoon along a cold front in southeast Minnesota and a warm front in western Wisconsin, producing two waves of severe weather. Tornadoes formed quickly as the supercells intensified and moved east, exiting central Wisconsin after about 6:30 p.m. The most concentrated activity occurred in southeast Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin.
In Minnesota, an EF2 tornado near Rochester was captured on video as it crossed open fields and approached farm areas. Local officials in Rochester and surrounding communities reported debris in neighborhoods and damage to outbuildings and structures. Disaster recovery efforts began on Saturday in affected counties, including Olmsted County.
In Wisconsin, an EF3 tornado in Marathon County leveled dozens of homes in the town of Ringle, with authorities describing significant destruction to residential areas. Additional tornadoes were confirmed in southern and southeast Wisconsin, including areas in Rock, Walworth, Racine and Waukesha counties, where homes, warehouses and barns sustained damage. Some tornadoes in western Wisconsin produced winds exceeding 100 mph.
Marathon County Sheriff Chad Billeb said during a news conference that the damage in Ringle represented “the most devastation” he had seen in his 34 years in law enforcement. “A lot of people are going to need a lot of help,” he added.
No fatalities or injuries were reported from the tornadoes as of Sunday, according to officials in both states and the National Weather Service. Details on the full extent of property damage remained under assessment by survey teams.
As of Sunday, cleanup operations continued in impacted communities, with emergency crews clearing debris and assessing infrastructure. Power outages were reported in some areas following the storms, though specific numbers were not immediately available. The National Weather Service continued surveying damage to finalize ratings and path lengths for all confirmed tornadoes.
