Severe Wind Gusts Cause Canceled Classes & Power Outages in Rochester, Crash in Fillmore County
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The high wind warning issued for Rochester and surrounding communities in southeast Minnesota wreaked havoc Friday morning.
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The strong winds caused numerous power outages, canceled classes at a local high school and were blamed for at least one injury crash. Rochester remains under a high wind warning until 10:00 Friday morning.
A potentially historic snow storm is predicted to follow the damaging winds.
High Wind Gusts Cause Power Outages, At Least One Crash in Southeast Minnesota
The highest wind gust reported overnight at the Rochester Airport was 69 mph. The National Weather Service recorded that reading shortly before 4:00 Friday morning.
Gusts above 60 mph were also reported at the airport shortly before 6 a.m. and 7 a.m.
Rochester Public Utilities Communications Coordinator Tom Jorgenson says crews responded to scattered outages over night.
He says the largest outage occurred around 6:00 Friday morning when a circuit breaker opened, impacting 1,197 customers. Jorgenson says crews were able to get the lights back on in less than 25 minutes.
RPU indicates its crews have restored 27 outages over the past 24 hours.
Mayo High School Cancels Class Due to Power Outages
Rochester Public Schools called off classes at Mayo High School Friday.
A statement issued by a school district spokesperson says, “The high winds in our area have caused several power outages in the neighborhood. As a result, the building is currently without the necessary power and systems to operate school as scheduled.”
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon was supposed to visit the school Friday but that event was called off.
Trucker Hurt After High Winds Knock Over Semi on Hwy. 63
The State Patrol is saying high winds caused an injury crash just north of the Minnesota-Iowa border in Fillmore County.
A semi traveling on Hwy. 63 south of Spring Valley was pushed onto its side shortly before 3 a.m. by the severe wind.
The state crash report says the truck driver, identified as 36-year-old Dusty Earl Smith of Waterloo, IA, was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester with non-life-threatening injuries.
Story updated to include new information from Rochester Public Utilities
Historic Derechos In Minnesota Weather History
Gallery Credit: Nick Cooper
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