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Boreal Community Media

Bemidji Officials Confirm Tornado Briefly Touched Down

Jul 05, 2018 05:05AM ● By Editor

Officials say an EF1 tornado with touched down in Bemidji Wednesday morning, causing widespread power outages and damages.  |  Photo: Beltrami County Emergency Management

From WDIO-TV - Updated: July 04, 2018 07:27 PM 


Officials have confirmed a tornado touched down briefly in Bemidji Wednesday morning.

According to Beltrami County Emergency Management, several large trees were uprooted and branches had snapped. Additionally, power lines were downed and roofing material was lifted from a few buildings in the area of damage.

Officials also said "several trampolines were blown across yards and one was even lodged in a tree top." After reviewing the damage, National Weather Service officials determined an EF1 tornado with winds of 90-100 mph touched down briefly at approximately 6:30 a.m. No one was injured.

One resident reported to emergency management officials the event "sounded like a train." A sheriff's deputy reported seeing a funnel cloud just before damage reports started coming in.

"The tornado developed very quickly and there was little to no time for warning," Beltrami County Emergency Management Director Christopher Muller wrote in a release.

As crews assessed the damage, officials reminded those in the area to stay away from power lines as they may still be active.

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