Powerful winds near the heart of downtown Minneapolis on Wednesday, toppling trees and part of a church’s 90-year-old metal steeple and blowing away a convention’s outdoor tents.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning based on radar observations for the counties that include Minneapolis and St. Paul. People also reported seeing a tornado just north of downtown Minneapolis.

Central Lutheran Church, near the Minneapolis Convention Center, was hit by strong winds around 2 p.m., church spokesman Joe Bjordal said. The winds tore off part of an old steeple and scattered chairs and tables that had been set up outdoors for the national Evangelical Lutheran Church in America convention next door.

The winds also blew two large tents into the street that were set up outside to serve breakfast to convention guests, Bjordal said. About 120 people were in the church at the time and headed to the basement but no one was hurt, he said.

“I think we’re out of business” for entertaining convention visitors, Bjordal said.

Lisa Kiava, spokeswoman for the Hennepin County sheriff’s office, said fire officials trained to spot tornadoes reported seeing one near Interstate 35W and Lake Street in Minneapolis. Tornado sirens were activated for the city and went off at 2:12 p.m.