Nice cloud rotation nearly right overhead tonight as a line of thunderstorms moved through!

It must have been an associated downburst that caused a LOT of mature tree damage in North Alexander park, and over by the King Mill Dam. Power was out in the northern part of Faribault for about 4 hours.

The City of Faribault, Minnesota – City Government Facebook wrote:

DAMAGE TO DAM: City of Faribault crews are currently working to stabilize flood-related erosion on the north side of the dam located next to the Faribault Mill, south of Slevin Park.

While the full extent of damages will not be entirely clear until water fully recedes, what can be seen has called for the need to stabilize the area and to prevent additional erosion.

The State has been notified, as is general practice in situations like this, and we’re encouraging everyone to avoid the area. Please do not proceed beyond barricades and/or police tape within Slevin Park.

There is no immediate public risk, and this erosion doesn’t appear to be as concerning as the Rapidan Dam situation, but with more rain in the forecast, the City – with help from partnering agencies – will continue monitoring the erosion.

Faribault Scene as of 7 a.m. 6/22 – 2nd Avenue Road Closure near the Fairgrounds, Cannon River Reservoir at Father Slevin Park, Straight River/Cannon River Reservoir at the Faribault Woolen Mills, Straight River at Fleckenstein Park, Urban flooding near the American Legion, River flowing over Union Pacific Railroad, Straight River at Teepee Tonka Park, Lowland flooding in Frogtown, 14th Street Trail Flooding, River near new floodwall at Waste Treatment Plant.

Faribault Scene as of 2:30 p.m. – Straight River/Cannon River Reservoir at the Faribault Woolen Mills, Straight River at Fleckenstein Park, Straight River at Teepee Tonka Park.

We’ve learned a lot about tornadoes in severe weather in the past 28 years, and thus I’m posting this primarily as a “what never to do” video. There are several quotes and pieces of video in these clips that will give any modern storm chaser anxiety.

1:45 – Chasing on an Interstate highway, with no easy way to change directions 90 degrees if necessary. Seeking shelter from a tornado under a freeway overpass (never do this, please).

4:30 – More of the above.

6:00 – Even more of the above, with innocent video crew.

6:26 – Putting yourself in a situation where you need to lie flat in a ditch as a last ditch shelter.

6:48 – “Are we OK?” “Yes, we’re fine. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I’ve been doing this for 19 years watching this stuff. Never been this close.”

7:22 – “In a car, Get out, get away from the car, lay flat in the ditch, and that’s exactly what we did. And we stayed safe.”

Definitely hit the Northern Lights jackpot tonight! These were all taken near Winjum’s Shady Acres Resort just west of Faribault.

Rice County’s new Emergency Manager Joe Johnson, as well as Rice County Skywarn, got a good write-up in today’s Faribault Daily News on how to stay safe and vigilant during tornado season. Give it a read!

It was a pleasure sitting down with Colton this afternoon to describe a little of what we’re all about at Rice County Skywarn!