Storms Cause Widespread Power Outages In Twin Cities Area

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — An estimated 6,000 homes and businesses are still without power following severe weather and damaging winds that swept through the Twin Cities area overnight.

Xcel Energy initially reported that more than 20,000 customers lost power early Saturday in its Minnesota service area — most in the Twin Cities, where the National Weather Service reported wind gusts of close to 60 mph.

The number had dropped to less than 12,000 as of 6:40 a.m. as crews worked to repair the downed lines, Minnesota Public Radio reported.

Xcel Energy customers can track outages on the company's website.

Following Friday night's storms, which also brought heavy rain and large hail to the metro area, a dangerously hot, humid day is in the forecast for much of Minnesota on Saturday.

An excessive heat warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday from the Twin Cities southwest toward Mankato, Marshall and Worthington. The temperature and humidity could create a heat index near 110 degrees.

Heat advisories are in effect for the rest of southern Minnesota.

More storms are expected to develop somewhere across west-central or southwest Minnesota by late afternoon Saturday and move eastward through the evening hours.