West-Central, Southern Minnesota Hit with Tornado, Large Hail

June 5, 2020

At least one tornado moved through west-central and southern Minnesota, but there are no reports of injuries or widespread damage, according to the National Weather Service.

The tornado was reported near Garden City about 5 p.m. on June 2. The weather service issued a tornado warning for communities south of Mankato and Owatonna.

Large tree branches were down near Pemberton and a large tree blocked a road in New Richland. The storm system produced golf ball-sized hail in Waldorf in Waseca County and quarter-sized hail in Lake Crystal in Blue Earth County.

In the Twin Cities metro area, Cottage Grove firefighters responded to a report of a house hit by lightning. No injuries were reported. In central Minnesota, authorities say a lightning strike apparently caused a house fire near Avon in the afternoon. No one was hurt.