LITCHFIELD, Minn. — Storms spawned tornadoes, torrential rain and powerful winds that damaged homes, deposited a snowplow in a tree and flooded highways in north-central Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Gov. Scott Walker declared a state of emergency Tuesday in eight Wisconsin counties after heavy rains caused flooding, power outages and damage to roads and bridges. At least one death was reported in northern Wisconsin.
Authorities say a tornado struck Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula during an overnight storm that downed trees and caused power outages and flooding.
The National Weather Service confirmed Tuesday a low-end EF1 tornado struck three miles south of the Gogebic County community of Bessemer. Winds were estimated around 90 mph.
The state Department of Natural Resources says the storm dumped nearly a foot of rain on the county and washed out access to a boat launch. Some area homes were being evacuated Tuesday afternoon.
Authorities said the tornado damaged up to 20 homes in the area near Litchfield, Minn. Keith Johnson, the mayor of Litchfield, said there was serious damage, but that no one was injured.
Law enforcement also reported a tornado touchdown around 6:30 p.m. Monday, 3 miles east of Rockville, in Stearns County, Minn., according to the National Weather Service.
The storms also washed out sections of highways in northern Wisconsin and closed other roads. Flooding in the town of Saxon forced authorities to block off roads for repairs, and the Hurley Fire Department and other agencies helped rescue people stranded in the Saxon Harbor area, the Iron County Sheriff’s Department said.
