The company says it has more than 650 employees and contractors working 16-hour shifts until power is restored to all customers.
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Xcel Energy had to send its reinforcement crews back to their service territory to deal with power outages of their own, Eldien said.
Additional strong to severe thunderstorms are possible in parts of Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota as a cold front approaches from the west.
Xcel didn’t expand on where the “hardest hit” areas are. Report downed lines immediately at 1-800-895-1999. Emergency calls should be directed to 9-1-1.
As the squall line moved from Minnesota into Wisconsin a 70 miles per hour wind gust was measured in Eau Galle.
Some of the 6,000 campers at the Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival in the town of Union west of Eau Claire reported heavy lightning and pounding rain around 2 a.m. Saturday, making for a frightening night in their tents. The Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office said on its Twitter page that deputies responded to many traffic hazards caused by the storm. Xcel Energy reported thousands of customers without power after the storm left the area.
A company spokeswoman says as of mid-afternoon Sunday, the number of customers without service was down to about 19,000, mostly in the western Twin Cities.
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SkyWarn 13 Meteorologist Matt Hoffman says Saturday’s highs will top out in the upper 80s, but some areas may reach the 90s. A tornado warning was canceled as the storm weakened.
