Tornadoes, Damaging Winds Reported in Michigan, Minnesota

The National Weather Service says a tornado ripped through a cemetery in southeastern Minnesota.

The EF-1 tornado with winds of 95 mph struck Woodlawn Cemetery in Winona early Wednesday. The tornado toppled trees and damaged a building and headstones.

The weather service says the tornado only lasted about a minute and moved less than a quarter mile. The tornado was about 80 yards (73 meters) wide.

The cemetery is closed until further notice.

The Winona Daily News reports the storm also knocked down trees and power lines in Winona, causing power outages. Most of the power had been restored by Wednesday afternoon.

Severe thunderstorms also brought heavy rain, high winds and possible tornadoes to parts of Michigan, damaging buildings and leaving tens of thousands without power.

The National Weather Service says a possible tornado was reported in the western Michigan city of Grand Rapids and emergency management officials in surrounding Kent County say several possible brief tornadoes were spotted on radar.

Firefighters evacuated a Grand Rapids apartment building after winds tore off the roof and damaged other nearby buildings. Damage was reported in the communities of Lowell and Ada.

DTE Energy says about 65,000 of its customers were affected, with about 36,000 without power early Thursday. Consumers Energy says more than 50,000 of its customers were affected, with about 32,000 without power early.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm Michigan Minnesota