Deadly Tornadoes Strike Michigan, North Dakota

A total of 62 Tornado Reports were received by the National Weather Service (mainly North Dakota & Minnesota) yesterday (88 Tornado Warnings and 182 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings went out). Though some of them were duplicates (multiple people seeing the same twister), this was the third biggest tornado outbreak in 2010 (and may end up tying for second). The NWS in Grand Forks, ND calls this "the most significant tornado outbreak in recent memory."

At least three people were killed in Minnesota according to KARE11. More information can be found in our wrap-up story "Deadly Tornadoes Rip Through Minnesota". The Alliant Energy Bent Tree Wind Farm in Minnesota had (ironically) severe damage to the wind turbines under construction.

Reed Timmer from Discovery Channel "Storm Chasers" said on Facebook "We intercepted in the Dominator, and the anemometer was ripped off while we were sliding across the ground in the deployed position. Saw at least 6-8 massive tornadoes..." This is one of his videos (this is not from the point-of-view of Reed, he's saving that for Discovery Channel's "Storm Chasers"):

The storms were massive and widespread - here is a radar loop (download | zoom in or download) and another video of one of the tornadoes. Check out more detailed radar loops on the NWS Twin Cities website.

This is an impressive video of one of the tornadoes (containing "multiple vortices" which often cause the worst destruction, basically smaller tornadoes within the large one):

Even outside of the tornadoes, the storms were impressive. AccuWeather.com Facebook Fan Marisa M. uploaded this video of extreme wind, rain and flooding at her house:

She lives in Minot, North Dakota, which received the heaviest rain from the storms -- over 3 inches.

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