Full Breakdown
Severe Storms Sweep Minnesota, Triggering Widespread Damage and Power Outages
6/11/2026, 7:46:33 AM
Event Overview
Overnight thunderstorms on June 10, 2026 produced damaging winds, heavy rain, lightning and hail across Minnesota. The storms knocked down trees and power lines, leaving thousands without electricity in the Twin Cities, western Wisconsin and the small town of Hoffman (west of Alexandria). A second round of severe weather was forecast for the afternoon and evening, with the National Weather Service issuing a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for parts of eastern Minnesota, western Wisconsin and eastern Iowa.
Timeline of Key Developments
- 02:00 a.m. – A severe wind event hits Hoffman, causing a train derailment, overturned campers and widespread power loss.
- Early morning – Downed trees damage homes in St. Paul’s Mac-Groveland neighborhood and on Talmage Avenue in Minneapolis.
- 05:20 a.m. – Xcel Energy reports ? 590 outages affecting > 54,000 customers statewide.
- 11:00 a.m. – Just under 30,000 Minnesotans remain without power; 12,000 of those are in Ramsey County.
- 02:00 p.m. – Xcel notes ? 16,000 customers still without electricity across Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
- 03:30 p.m. – Poweroutage.us lists ? 15,000 statewide outages; Xcel reports 6,500 customers still dark, primarily in the eastern Twin Cities.
- 05:30 p.m. – About 5,140 Xcel customers in Minnesota and Wisconsin remain without power.
Data & Statistics
- Initial estimates: > 75,000 people without power in Minnesota (morning).
- Xcel Energy deployed ? 275 crews initially, with additional crews scheduled.
- Hoffman experienced a community-wide outage; water and sewer services remained operational.
- The forecast called for a Level 3 enhanced risk of hail, damaging winds and tornadoes in eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
On-the-Ground Reports
Residents described trees striking homes and vehicles. In Minneapolis, a tree clipped a roof on Talmage Avenue, creating a hole and interior cracks. A fallen tree on Rollings Avenue shattered a van’s rear window, while another on Clinton Avenue struck a fence and a nearby house. Mary Solac, whose home was hit, recounted hearing glass break and a tree impact. In St. Paul, a tree fell on a house in the Como neighborhood, prompting fire crews to secure power lines and evacuate the homeowner.
Official Statements & Responses
Xcel Energy said crews had been positioned before the storms and that “about 275 crews are in the field now to safely restore power as quickly as possible, with additional teams slated to join later.” City officials in Hoffman confirmed the train derailment, coordinated cleanup with CP Railroad, Otter Tail Power and the American Red Cross, and kept water and sewer services running. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office warned residents about potential scammers exploiting storm damage claims.
Criticism & Opposition
Local authorities cautioned that “residents should be vigilant for scammers” seeking to profit from damage assessments, reflecting community concerns about opportunistic fraud following the outages.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Outage figures vary: early reports cite > 75,000 without power, later updates list ? 15,000 statewide, while Xcel’s own counts range from 5,140 to 6,500 at different times. No injuries or fatalities were reported, but comprehensive damage cost estimates remain unavailable.
Why It Matters
The storms disrupted electricity for tens of thousands, impeded transportation, and heightened risk of secondary hazards such as flooding and fire. The repeated severe-weather episodes underscore the region’s vulnerability to rapid storm redevelopment.
What’s Next
Meteorologists project another round of storms between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., with possible baseball-size hail, damaging winds and tornadoes. After Wednesday, temperatures are expected to fall into the mid-70s, with scattered showers possible Thursday and a cooler, drier weekend.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I heard a bump, and I heard the glass falling,” — Mary Solac, Minneapolis resident
- “And when you hear the glass and realize stuff's coming through the window, you know you've got a problem [laughs].” — Mary Solac
- “Well, it always needed to be fixed, I guess we fix it now,” — Mary Solac
- “As long as there's not a dead body at the end of it, just go with it.” — Mary Solac
