FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (KFGO) – The National Weather Service has upgraded Wednesday’s tornado in Grant County and Otter Tail County to an EF-4 rating.
The twister covered about nine miles and was 650 yards wide. Winds reached up to 170 miles an hour. The initial touchdown occurred 6.5 miles west of Ashby in Grant County and moved northeast until it lifted 5 miles east of Dalton in Otter Tail County, impacting St. Olaf and Tumuli townships.
A National Weather Service survey crew toured the area to determine the strength of the tornadoes. Crews were able to use video and drones to determine the tornado’s path and intensity. Video also confirmed the existence of a single tornado, where two were initially reported.
A preliminary report says two homes and a repair business’s shop were destroyed, while six other homes and buildings had minor damage.
Public property damage estimates are ongoing. The county would need to have more than $110,000 in damages to public infrastructure to qualify for a state disaster declaration.
