Storms sweep across west-central Minnesota; severe weather in metro today

Heavy rain, hail and high winds swept across west-central Minnesota, with a line of storms prompting tornado warnings in Pope, Swift, Douglas and parts of Stearns and Meeker counties. More than 3 inches of rain flooded roads and fields in the Hutchinson and Litchfield areas.

The National Weather Service posted on Twitter that a trained spotter reported a funnel cloud west of Brooten around 7:35 p.m. A storm chaser also reported a tornado near Sedan around that time. An hour later, a trained spotter reported via Twitter a tornado west of Kimball in Stearns County, with some roof damage from a downed tree, along with some sheet metal debris.

The most severe part of the storm track passed slightly to the north-northwest of the Twin Cities metro, where rain began falling around 9 p.m.

Twin Cities forecast calls for turbulence

You might want to make the most of your Sunday morning, because weather conditions are likely to deteriorate throughout the day, with hail and possible tornadoes in the forecast.

Severe thunderstorms are expected across parts of east-central and southeast Minnesota, including the Twin Cities area, by Sunday afternoon and into the evening, according to the NWS's Storm Prediction Center. Sunday's storm front was to arrive in the metro area by midday with a risk of large hail and wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour. With an expected high temperature of 78 degrees in the Twin Cities, that combination may create wind shears, whose spinning action can spawn tornadoes, forecasters said.

The chance of rain was 80 percent throughout the day, with heavy rain possible. Cooler weather will start the week with a high Monday near 50 with gusty winds.

Kim Ode

Group plans Nepal fundraiser in St. Paul

A celebration of music, food, art and photography Sunday in St. Paul will help raise funds for victims of recent earthquakes in Nepal. The Association of Nepalis in Minnesota (ANMN) is planning "7.8 Rubbles," named after a 7.8-magnitude quake that struck the south Asian country April 25, leaving more than 8,000 dead and nearly 20,000 injured. The disaster flattened entire villages and triggered a deadly avalanche on Mount Everest. It was followed by a 7.3-magnitude quake last week that killed or injured thousands more.

The fundraiser features live music and a silent auction and starts at noon at the Loch at Macalester College, 1600 Grand Av. Admission is $25 in advance, $30 at the door; kids 12 and under are free. Organizers warned that alternate routes might be warranted because of a planned closure of Interstate 94 through parts of St. Paul this weekend.

The ANMN recently donated $25,000 to the Minnesota Red Cross for relief efforts.

staff report

Winona death investigated as homicide

Winona, Minn., police are investigating an incident in which a 75-year-old woman was found dead and an 84-year-old man was found critically injured. Deputy Police Chief Tom Williams said police got a call of a possible homicide around 3:30 p.m. Friday. Officers arrived at a home to find the woman dead in the living room and the man in the same room with what appeared to be a severe head injury. The man was listed in critical condition at Gundersen Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis. Neither person's name has been released. Williams said there is no danger to the public.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Body pulled from lake in NW. Minnesota

Authorities say a body has been pulled from Little Detroit Lake in northwestern Minnesota after a local pilot and a police investigator spotted it from a plane. Becker County Sheriff Todd Glander said the body was discovered about 200 yards from shore in 6 feet of water late Friday afternoon. According to KFGO-AM, Glander said the body is believed to be that of a Detroit Lakes man who had been missing for nearly a week. He said there's no evidence of a crime, but the body was sent to the Ramsey County medical examiner in St. Paul where an autopsy will be performed.

Associated Press

Bethel man drowns in Clearwater Lake

Authorities say a 73-year-old Bethel man has drowned in Clearwater Lake in central Minnesota.

The Stearns County Sheriff's Office said Harald Nesenson was believed to be getting off his pontoon when he lost his balance and fell into the lake Saturday morning. The St. Cloud Times reports family members found him between the pontoon and the dock around 7:30 a.m. The incident remains under investigation.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

California man drowns near Fergus Falls

The body of a California man who fell out of a boat and drowned on Jewett Lake near Fergus Falls in northwestern Minnesota has been recovered. The Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office reported that family members heard the victim yelling for help around 10 p.m. Friday but were unable to reach him before he went under. Searchers were unable to find the man until after the search resumed at sunrise Saturday. The man was the sole occupant of the boat and was not wearing a life preserver. His name and hometown were not immediately released.

ASSOCIATED PRESS