NWS: Tornado, downburst winds hit Elysian area
The National Weather Service says a tornado combined with downburst winds knocked down trees and damaged sheds near Elysian in south-central Minnesota.
The weather service said Tuesday the tornado and winds had a strength of EF0 on the scale that measures tornadic force. Winds reached 80 to 85 mph.
The tornado traveled about seven miles, measured about 100 yards wide and was on the ground for about 10 minutes. Combined with strong downburst winds, the tornado's damage footprint grew as wide as a mile.
Le Sueur County Sheriff Tom Doherty said Tuesday damage was moderate and no one was hurt in the fast-moving storm which hit the north side of Lake Francis about 6:30 p.m. Monday.
The weather service says the storm also tossed boat docks and lifts.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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