Rochester, MN  (KROC AM News) -  Residents in some towns in southeast Minnesota reported tree and other damage from the strong storm cells that moved across the region Thursday afternoon, catching many by surprise.  

Reports passed on to the National Weather Service included a wind gust of 73-miles-per-hour at the Fillmore County airport. Gusts of 60-miles-per-hour were reported near Hayfield and Rock Dell. The strong winds blew down numerous trees near Blooming Prairie and Spring Valley.  

One inch hail was reported near Cherry Grove in Fillmore County. Hail was also reported in Dodge and Olmsted counties.

A weather observer in Hayfield reported nearly 1.7 inches of rain fell in 45 minutes. Most rainfall totals across the region were under an inch, although the Rochester airport received 1.6 inches and the Oronoco area received around an inch.

The stormy weather led to the cancellation of Rochester’s Thursdays on First event.

People’s Energy Cooperative was reporting more than 100 outages Friday morning.

There will be a threat of more storms through Saturday.

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