Twin Cities Power Outages Weather: Severe Storms Leave Thousands Without Electricity

Severe weather conditions swept through Minnesota, causing substantial disruption as storms left tens of thousands without electricity. Xcel Energy is actively working to restore power to affected areas, focusing on the Twin Cities metro, which bore the brunt of the outage. Initially, around 74,000 customers lost power due to the storms late Sunday night, but this number was reduced to 34,000 by Monday morning as restoration efforts continued.

In addition to power outages, the severe weather brought strong winds and significant hail, with reports of golf ball-sized hail impacting areas from Plymouth to downtown St. Paul. Winds reached speeds of 50 to 65 mph, adding to the storm's severity and causing sporadic damage to trees across various parts of the metro area. Utility companies, including Minnesota Power, Lake Country Power, and Xcel Energy, have dispatched crews to navigate the challenging post-storm conditions to restore service as quickly as possible.

Throughout Sunday night, residents experienced not only power outages but also instances of minor street flooding, particularly in neighborhoods such as Hibbing and Chisholm. Lightning accompanied the intense storms, which caused transformers to explode in some areas, further complicating restoration efforts.

The National Weather Service issued multiple warnings across the Twin Cities, including severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings, with flash flood concerns highlighted in parts of Ramsey and Washington Counties. While tornado warnings were canceled later in the evening, the threat of severe storms persisted, particularly in the southwestern metro.

Residents are advised by Xcel Energy to exercise caution, particularly around downed or sagging power lines, which should be considered energized and dangerous. The company urges the public to report any such power lines by phone to expedite safety measures and aid restoration crews.

Analysts predict that while electricity may be restored for most by Monday evening, certain areas might experience extended outages due to significant storm damage. Weather forecasts suggest continued volatility, with further storms expected to impact recovery efforts. Residents are encouraged to stay informed about current conditions and prepare for potential weather-related disruptions.