MPR’s Cathy Wurzer talks with meteorologist Craig Edwards about a memorable August 24th, which brought destructive hail and tornadoes to southern areas of the state. Edwards details what transpired.
On August 24, 2005, tornadoes were reported over south-central Minnesota. The largest tornado began 4 miles west-southwest of Nicollet and moved due east, dissipating near Waterville in Le Sueur County. The tornado damaged farms and homes. It also left 37 injured, and caused the death of an elderly man at Lake Emily near Kasota. This was the first death due to a tornado in Minnesota in six years. Another component of storms was large and destructive hail over southern Minnesota. The largest hail reported was grapefruit size at New Prage in Scott County.