(UPDATE) Multiple Tornadoes Reported in the Rochester Area

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - It has been an active weather day in southeastern Minnesota.

As predicted, severe weather developed early this afternoon and resulted in multiple tornado sightings. The National Weather Service is indicating that tornadoes were reported west of Stewartville near the town of Sergeant and near the Rochester airport.

A 55-year-old truck driver from Bloomington suffered non-life-threatening injuries when in approaching tornado caused his semi-truck to flip onto its side along westbound I-90 near the Rochester Airport around 2:45 PM.

There were also reports of a tornado just southeast of Rochester in Marion as a line of severe storms pushed across the region.

Early reports indicate several homes sustained significant damage from the tornadoes that moved through areas just south of Rochester this afternoon, including a roof torn off a house in Marion and major damage to several homes along Marion Road Southeast just south of Rochester. There are also reports of damage to homes in Stewartville.

The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office is requesting that everyone avoid northeast Stewartville and areas along Marion Road Southeast between 50th Avenue Southeast and 30th Street Southeast due to storm damage. Individuals who have experienced property damage are being asked not to call law enforcement at this time to keep emergency lines open for urgent needs. Deputies and other emergency responders are currently securing the area and going door to door to assess the damage.

A temporary shelter has been established for anyone in need at the Autumn Ridge Church at 3611 Salem Road Southwest in Rochester. Anyone seeking shelter is advised to bring necessary medications, identification, and essential personal items.

Utility crews are also busy responding to power outages affecting several hundred homes in the same areas.

As of 5 PM,People's Cooperative Power was reporting that approximately 2500 of its customers were without power.

There were numerous tornado warnings posted throughout southeastern Minnesota, including one involving a tornado on the ground in the Elgin area that flipped over a semi-truck and cause damage to some farms as the storm also produced damaging hail, strong winds, and heavy rain.

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So far, the largest hail reported was around 1 3/4 inch diameter in northwest Rochester and near Hayfield.