Campus Alert Archive
BSU

120 MPH Winds Flatten Trees and Mobile Labs, Closing Bemidji State for a Week

MNsevere stormemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

Overnight on June 20-21, 2025, a severe straight-line windstorm with gusts estimated at 90 to 120 mph tore through Bemidji, Minnesota, damaging the Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College campuses. Mobile labs were blown over and destroyed, small athletic buildings were lost, windows were blown out, and countless trees were torn down across campus. Widespread power outages followed, and Bemidji State closed through Saturday, June 28 while NTC closed through June 25, both shifting to remote operations during recovery.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Bemidji State University
Public Masters · MN
~4,500 studentsBSU Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction282 chars
BSU Alert: Due to extensive storm damage and widespread power outages, the Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College campuses are closed until further notice. Please stay away from campus while crews assess damage and clear debris. Avoid downed trees and power lines.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed because the university's verbatim emergency message was not archived publicly; the substance (closure due to storm damage and power outages) is confirmed by the university's official storm-recovery page.
The pairing of Bemidji State and Northwest Technical College reflects that the two co-located campuses were both struck and closed by the same windstorm.
UPDATEWebsite
Approximate reconstruction346 chars
Update: Northwest Technical College will remain closed through Wednesday, June 25, and Bemidji State University will remain closed through Saturday, June 28. Both campuses are operating remotely while crews continue debris removal, damage assessment and restoration of essential services. Watch your email and the storm recovery page for updates.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Classified as update rather than all-clear because both campuses remained closed; the message extended the closure with staggered reopening dates rather than lifting it.
The staggered dates (NTC June 25, BSU June 28) are preserved from local reporting and reflect the differing damage and restoration timelines at the two campuses.
Context

Background

Bemidji State University and the co-located Northwest Technical College sit on the shore of Lake Bemidji in northern Minnesota. Overnight on June 20-21, 2025, a powerful straight-line windstorm and embedded derecho raked Beltrami County with gusts a National Weather Service survey estimated at 90 to 120 mph, comparable to an EF-2 tornado. On campus the storm destroyed mobile labs, took out small athletic buildings, blew out windows and downed countless trees. Widespread, multi-day power outages followed across the city, and thousands of customers remained without power for days. Bemidji State closed through Saturday, June 28, and Northwest Technical College through Wednesday, June 25, with both institutions moving to remote work and teaching during the cleanup. Governor Tim Walz traveled to the Bemidji area to survey the damage.
Analysis

Key Findings

A single straight-line windstorm with 90-120 mph gusts closed two co-located public institutions for the better part of a week, an unusually long campus closure for a Minnesota summer storm
Bemidji State and Northwest Technical College set staggered reopening dates (NTC June 25, BSU June 28) reflecting differing damage levels rather than a single all-clear
The closures were driven as much by multi-day power outages and debris hazards as by direct building damage, with both campuses pivoting to remote operations
Outcome
Bemidji State University closed through Saturday, June 28; Northwest Technical College closed through Wednesday, June 25. Both campuses moved to remote work and teaching while crews cleared debris, assessed damage and restored essential services. Governor Tim Walz toured the damage.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Official
    June 21 Storm and Recovery - Office of the President, Bemidji State University
    bemidjistate.edu
  2. News
    Bemidji June 21 Storm: 100+ MPH Winds; Progress Made in Restoring Power - Lakeland PBS
    lptv.org
  3. News
    Storm recovery resources for Bemidji, Beltrami County residents - KAXE
    kaxe.org
  4. Official
    Bemidji Blowdown: Derecho and Other Severe Thunderstorms, June 20-21, 2025 - Minnesota DNR
    dnr.state.mn.us
Tags
severe-stormderechostraight-line-windsminnesotabemidjicampus-closurepower-outagetechnical-college
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion