On July 27, 2025, an intense thunderstorm-system weighed itself upon Minnesota storm power outage 2025 with perhaps extremely high wind gusts in certain pockets, heavy rain, and occasional hail; havoc was immediately proclaimed across the state. Thousands of trees fell, blocking roads and power lines. Power companies reported tens of thousands of outages. Some areas experienced gusts reaching 70mph. Winds reached 60 mph in St. Paul.
Crystal Airport had similar conditions. Hail as big as 1.75 inches hit areas like Plymouth and Falcon Heights. Roads flooded in Roseville. Flights at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was severely delayed and diverted. Many passengers reported missed connections and long delays.
Xcel Energy Reports Massive Outages
Xcel Energy said 74,000 customers lost power Sunday night. A heavy wind knocked down trees and electric poles throughout the metro, causing much more damage than was expected. By Monday morning, cleanup had already begun. Technicians worked around the clock to restore power.
New storms hit Monday night and reversed some of the progress. Outages surged to 79,000. Hennepin and Ramsey counties had 34,000 outages.
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Other Providers Also Affected
Outages weren’t limited to Xcel Energy. Connexus Energy had 4,747 customers without power. Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative had 5,029. MiEnergy Cooperative had over 6,000.
Across Minnesota and western Wisconsin, 140,000 households lost power at the peak of the storm. PowerOutage.us tracked the outages in real time. The site showed the numbers growing as new storms developed.
Xcel Energy increased its field crew from 200 to 500. Over 1,000 workers were on emergency repairs. Crews prioritized areas with the most outages. Isolated areas had longer wait times due to logistics.
Warnings and Risks Continue
Forecasters warned of severe weather through Monday night. Another round of strong wind and hail was predicted. A derecho was looking more likely. These can produce winds over 90 mph, like a weak tornado.
Officials were expecting more outages and falling trees. Many told residents to stay inside during the storm watch. Damage reports came in throughout the day. In northeast Minneapolis, trees were blocking roads and sidewalks. Roseville had flooding near Highway 36 and Fairview Avenue. Cars were stalled in deep water on several lanes.
Flight Disruptions and Tornado Reports
Airlines had big problems. Passengers posted about crazy scenes and delays. The National Weather Service confirmed the touchdown Sunday afternoon. Nearby counties were bracing for more twisters.
Event Disrupted at Xcel Energy Center
Comedian Nate Bargatze entered the stage when a sudden thunderstorm struck the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Backup power generators started running humbly along with emergency lighting. The crowd began to applaud and cheer to keep calm.. The show paused for almost an hour.
When the power came back on a little, the show resumed. Bargatze joked about it and kept it light. Audience members said it was electric despite the interruption. No one was hurt at the venue. Security escorted people out during the power outage. Venue staff were quick and professional.
Restoration Efforts and Customer Warnings
By Monday evening, Xcel had restored power to 85% of affected customers. Many rural areas were still waiting. Restoration teams worked through the night and into Tuesday. Officials urged people to report hazards immediately.
Crews faced repeated storms and strong winds. Fresh debris slowed progress in multiple counties. Techs worked in shifts to cover more ground. They used trucks, bucket lifts and chainsaws to get to poles.
Forecast Predicts More Bad Weather
The Storm Prediction Center issued a severe weather alert. Meteorologists said more storms were expected in west-central and southern Minnesota. Shelters were set up in case of emergencies.
Several cities had opened their emergency operations centers. These teams coordinated cleanup, rescues and road closures. Flash flood warnings extended into Tuesday morning. Officials told residents to avoid travel when possible. And it was hot too. 90s with humidity.
Community Response and Efforts
People helped clear branches and driveways. Local churches opened shelters for the night. Residents shared safety tips and updated others on road conditions.
Utility apps and outage maps helped people track restoration updates. Schools’ delayed openings in affected areas. City officials inspected buildings and infrastructure for damage. Insurance agents started taking storm claims.
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Conclusion
Wind, hail and rain left damage in many counties. Utilities responded fast but couldn’t avoid the outages. Thousands were still without power days later. Weather experts were tracking threats through the week. Residents showed resilience and unity amid all the chaos. Everyone hoped for calm skies and normalcy soon.
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