Update: Multiple tornado touchdowns reported; damage reported in rural Hartland
Published 3:26 pm Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Hartland tornado. Photo courtesy Abbey Jacobsen
One mile south of Hartland. Photo courtesy Julie Robran
A funnel cloud is visible north of the Interstate 90 bridge at the Alden exit. Photo courtesy Pam Schull
A funnel cloud is visible north of the Interstate 90 bridge at the Alden exit. Photo courtesy Pam Schull
A funnel cloud is seen west of Oak View Golf Course. Photo courtesy Abbey Jacobsen
A funnel cloud is visible north of the Interstate 90 bridge at the Alden exit. Photo courtesy Pam Schull
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Update (5:15 p.m.): Freeborn County Sheriff Ryan Shea said there have been multiple tornado touchdowns reported in Freeborn County Wednesday afternoon, with two reports thus far of property damage near Hartland from tornadoes.
Early reports of touchdowns southwest of Alden and near Freeborn Lake did not appear to cause any structural damage, though there may have been damage to fields, Shea said.
Another tornado is believed to have caused damage at a property directly west of Hartland near the intersection of Freeborn County Roads 33 and 67 and also at a property on Freeborn County Road 35, a half mile east of Minnesota Highway 13. The same tornado went on to touch down in Steele County near Ellendale, he said.
Numerous reports of funnel clouds came into the area throughout the afternoon, and another round of storms was expected to come into the southwestern part of the county by about 6 p.m. The sheriff advised people to plan accordingly and have a safe place to shelter.
The county remained under a tornado watch through 10 p.m.
Update (4:45 p.m.): A tornado warning is still in effect in Freeborn and Steele counties through 5 p.m.
Update (4:15 p.m.): The Weather service issued a tornado warning until 4:30 p.m. in Freeborn and Steele counties, particularly the cities of Geneva, Hartland and Ellendale.
tornado near Hartland minnesota #mnwx @NWSTwinCities pic.twitter.com/9Z9NW73tXg
— Mykolas Olson (@MykolasOlsonWx) June 25, 2025
Update (4:06 p.m.): The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning until 4:45 p.m. in Winnebago and Worth counties.
Update (3:47 p.m.): The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning until 4:15 p.m.in Freeborn County after a reported confirmed touchdown southwest of Alden. The storm is headed northeast.
People are advised to take shelter now in a basement or an interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy building.
If outdoors, in a mobile home or in a vehicle, people should move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
Check back for more information as it becomes available.
Original story:
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch until 10 p.m. for the following area counties:
• Freeborn
• Faribault
• Steele
• Mower
• Waseca
• Blue Earth
A flood watch is also in effect through Thursday morning as several hours of moderate to heavy rain are expected.
Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, according to the weather agency. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.
The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office posted on its Facebook page that with the forecasted rain, there are sand and bags in Alden at 213 E Main St for Alden residents who are interested in making some sandbags.
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