SEVERE STORMS BLOW THROUGH THE AREA

The first bout of severe weather in southern Minnesota included tornadoes, large hail, and strong winds.  The National Weather Service says a tornado was on the ground near Amboy in Blue Earth County around 6:25 Monday evening, and it damaged a farm building.  A trained spotter shot video of a twister near Matawan in Waseca County,  photos show a tornado near Truman, and a funnel cloud was spotted near Wabasha.   The hail reports were impressive.   Three-and-a-half-inch hail was reported in Lake Crystal;  three-inch stones fell near Faribault and Morristown; and Owatonna, Lakefield, Lake City, and Windom received two-inch hail.  Wind gusts from 50 to 60 miles per hour were reported in several locations across southern Minnesota.