Plains Severe Weather - MN Tornado

One story that got buried under the Hurricane Rita coverage today (and really shouldn't have) was the severe weather in the Northern Plains last night.

This is what we know so far. Severe reports stretched from Minnesota into Wisconsin. CNN reports that one man was killed by a falling tree branch. Hail to 3 inches in diameter was reported in Rice Lake, Wisconsin and a 78 mph wind gust was clocked in Hennepin, Minnesota.

The National Weather Service reports:

"THE TEAM HAS DETERMINED THAT A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN THE EXTREME EASTERN PART OF COON RAPIDS... MOVED INTO BLAINE... BEFORE DISSIPATING JUST WEST OF THE NATIONAL SPORTS CENTER. THE TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND FOR TWO MILES... TRACKED EAST SOUTHEAST... WAS AN F2... AND HAD A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF 50 YARDS... THE STORM DAMAGE TEAM IS NOW IN ANDOVER... JUST BEGINNING AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER THE ANDOVER DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A TORNADO OR STRAIGHT LINE WINDS."

Below is a photo from the Associated Press.