ST. PAUL (AP) &045; High winds on Sunday toppled a 25-foot Christmas tree in the front yard of the governor’s mansion, uprooted other trees and knocked down power lines.

Heavy sustained winds and gusts of up to 62 mph led the National Weather Service to issue wind warnings for much of the state. The tree fell sometime Sunday morning after one of the cables holding it up snapped, according to State Patrol Trooper Patrick Gibbs, who was on duty at the mansion.

The tree, which was donated by the Department of Natural Resources, was decorated with lights. Gibbs said workers initially tried to put the tree back up, but decided to wait.

Various reports of wind damage in Albert Lea generally included downed signs, according to Dwaine Winkels, assistant chief of police for the Albert Lea Police Department.

&uot;We had several reports of damage around town due to yesterday’s high winds,&uot; said Winkels.

&uot;A sign was knocked over at a car dealership on Bridge Avenue damaging a number of cars. A light pole was knocked down on East Main Street by St. Peter; and a sign on Blake Avenue was also knocked down. A section of Bridge Avenue by the China Restaurant was closed off because water was coming over the road and freezing.&uot;

Christmas lights on Katherine Island were also knocked down because of the windy conditions, as well as Christmas lights and decorations downtown and across Albert Lea.

Highway travel is the worst during high winds, but for &uot;driving in town there usually isn’t a problem other than blowing snow and debris,&uot; said Winkels.

The National Weather Service warned drivers to take care on the roads, and warned that high winds could damage roofs and blow objects such as holiday decorations off of houses.

Gusts as high as 62 mph were reported in Dexter, 61 mph in St. James, 59 mph in New Ulm, 58 mph in Mankato and Fairmont, 55 mph in St. Paul, St. Cloud and Albert Lea, and 52 mph at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.