Weather And Emergency News

Rochester faces severe storm damage and power outages as new severe weather threatens Thursday

Severe thunderstorms struck southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, causing widespread damage in Rochester. Wind gusts reached 68 to 90 mph, downing trees and power lines, while rainfall ranged from 1 to 2.5 inches. Rochester Public Utilities reported over 9,000 initial power outages, dropping to approximately 1,300 to 1,500 by mid-afternoon. The National Weather Service issued a level 2 severe weather risk for Thursday, with potential for damaging winds and isolated tornadoes in the evening.