Minimal damage is reported

 

Tornado sirens sounded in Freeborn County Tuesday evening after an initial report of an off-duty officer who reported a tornado near Hartland.

Freeborn County Sheriff Kurt  Freitag said aside from the witness, there was no indication of a touchdown as of press time. He noted damage consisted of  minor vegetation damage and a flagpole that was blown over.

Freitag said sirens were sounded in other areas throughout the county, including Albert Lea right after 5:15 p.m., as a precaution because it was unclear what was taking place with the storm. Information was not readily available through the National Weather Service.

Residents in Hartland reported on social media that sirens did not sound in their community.

Freitag said the city of Hartland controls its own sirens, though the Sheriff’s Office would like the ability to do so.

He said multiple attempts were made Tuesday evening to reach Hartland city officials with no answer, and he hopes to be in talks to remedy that problem for future purposes.

After the initial report, tornado spotters were called out to watch the skies as Freeborn, Steele and Waseca counties were under a severe thunderstorm warning. Spotters were called back in sometime after 6 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service, the area was under a severe weather watch until 11 p.m. Tuesday with damaging winds and large hail possible.

The Weather Service is forecasting sunny skies through Saturday with high temperatures around 80.