85 mph wind gusts reported late Wednesday were among the strongest statewide according the the National Weather Service in the Twin Cities.
While no tornados have been confirmed, the NWS is looking into three reports of tornados Thursday morning including in the Hartland area where several homes and businesses suffered extensive damage.
"There has never been a December tornado in the state of Minnesota until possibly yesterday," said WCCO Radio meteorologist Paul Douglas on Thursday morning. "I'm seeing at least three possibilities of touchdowns."
The National Weather Service said that a survey team would visit Freeborn County on Thursday to assess the damage near Hartland. Another team was schedule to visit Stanley, Wisconsin to survey damage.
The first-ever Tornado Warning in December issued by the National Weather Service in the Twin Cities came shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Related
The Twin Cities escaped much of Wednesday's severe storms although high wind gusts were reported across the metro. A 60 mph gust was recorded at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.