Heavy snow and difficult travel expected again, heaviest snow in southern Minnesota

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Survey crews from the National Weather Service office in the Twin Cities were in southern Minnesota Thursday to check reports of tornado touchdowns in the area the night before. As of early Thursday afternoon, they had confirmed there was a tornado in Lewiston, Minn.

The area was under tornado warnings Wednesday night as a powerful line of storms whipped across that part of the state. There had never before been a recorded instance of a tornado touchdown in Minnesota in December.

One tornado confirmed, damage surveys continue

One of the hardest-hit areas was the small town of Hartland in Freeborn County. We sent photographer Tim Evans there to view the impact. He traced a line of major damage near Hartland’s historic main street for host Cathy Wurzer.

“It looks like a bomb exploded. I mean, it’s extreme destruction,” Evans said.

. That story will be updated throughout Thursday.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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Wednesday night, a powerful line of storms whipped across southern Minnesota, and the state saw its first-ever recorded December tornado. Photographer Tim Evans has been surveying the damage in Hartland, Minn., and he joined host Cathy Wurzer with more.

Last night, a powerful line of storms whipped across southern Minnesota, and the state saw its first-ever recorded December tornado. Photographer Tim Evans has been surveying the damage in Hartland, Minn., and he joined host Cathy Wurzer with more.

"It looks like a bomb exploded": On the ground after storms in southern MN

an RV on its side among post-storm debris

'Like a bomb exploded': On the ground after storms in southern MN

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