Local

Xcel works to restore power in Twin Cities metro after storms

The outages are in many parts of the metro area but heavily concentrated to the west. More storms are possible Sunday night.

By Greta Kaul

Star Tribune

July 15, 2024 at 12:44AM
Lineman Bobby Weber uses binoculars to inspect a high power line pole on April 24, 2024. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune)

Tens of thousands of residents of the greater Twin Cities area woke up without power Sunday after thunderstorms and big winds boomed through the region overnight.

One storm produced a brief tornado in Rice County, the National Weather Service reported.

Around 10 a.m., an estimated 75,000 Twin Cities area customers — mostly in the west metro — were without power, Xcel said in a statement. The company said it was working to restore power as quickly as possible. Some customers were without power elsewhere in the metro and in western Wisconsin.

Power outages closed libraries in Edina and north Minneapolis on Sunday, when some 1,300 outages remained in the Twin Cities.

Power is expected to be restored for most by Monday night, with work continuing into Tuesday. Weather forecasts suggest hot and humid conditions Sunday with more storms possible Monday. Xcel said it has “put operational plans in place to ensure employees are available to respond to outages while staying safe in the heat.”

The National Weather Service is tracking more storms forecast for the Twin Cities on Monday, but meteorologist Michelle Margraf said it is not yet clear how severe those storms will be. If a wave of storms expected early Monday lingers into the late morning, she said, the chances of severe storms developing later in the day are lower than if those storms move through quickly.

Either way, Margraf said Monday will bring lower humidity, and by Tuesday, high temperatures are expected in the 70s.

Lost power?

Xcel is encouraging those experiencing power outages to report them, either through the Xcel app, website or by texting OUT to 98936. You can text STAT to 98936 for a status update or by calling 1-800-895-1999.

Customers also can get status updates on Xcel’s website.

Greta Kaul

Reporter

Greta Kaul is the Star Tribune’s Ramsey County reporter.

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