Teams surveying tornado damage in several southern Minnesota communities

Teams from the National Weather Service spent Tuesday surveying the damage from storms that blew through south-central Minnesota Monday night, producing tornadoes and funnel clouds in some areas.

Damage in Watonwan, Blue Earth and Freeborn counties appeared to be limited to a few buildings, uprooted trees, and downed branches and power lines. There were no immediate reports of any injuries from the storms.

Over a 2½-hour period starting at 5:30 p.m., the Weather Service received reports of tornados south of Janesville in Waseca County, north of St. James in Watonwan County and south of Wells in Faribault County.

Three other reports came out of Freeborn County: tornados north of Emmons and south of Conger and a rotating funnel cloud almost touching the ground near Alden.

Two tornados near Emmons are confirmed to have touched ground, said Rich Hall, emergency management director for Freeborn County. The storm did not cause any injuries, Hall said. There was damage to some sheds, minor flooding in Albert Lea, and pea-sized hail, he added.

Waseca County had storm damage near Janesville, Otisco Township and New Richland, Waseca County Sheriff Jay Dulas said. Damage included a downed tree that landed on a house.

In Watonwan County, some farm outbuildings were damaged in the night’s storms, but it’s unclear whether a tornado was involved, said Ryan Visher, emergency management director for the county.

A rapidly rotating funnel cloud was also reported near Mankato. Eric Weller, the emergency management director for Blue Earth County, said trees were down and highway signs were blown away, but there were no reports of major damage or flooding.