UFO Sightings Up This Year in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota (2020)

📍 Location

📝 Description

In 2020, Minnesota MUFON and local media reported a notable uptick in UFO/UAP sightings across the state, including the Minneapolis–St. Paul area. By mid‑November 2020 MUFON stated there were about 99 sightings in Minnesota for the year and approximately 1,226 encounters documented over the prior two decades. The rise was attributed in part to more people observing the sky during COVID stay‑at‑home periods and to high‑attention satellite activity (e.g., Starlink). Public discussion also referenced a Prior Lake incident from the fall of 2019 involving a reddish‑orange glowing sphere, though no publicly verified evidence tying that specific encounter to extraterrestrial activity has been released. Through 2021–2025, reports continued to be collected by MUFON and NUFORC and occasionally covered by local media, but there has been no publicly published, case‑level confirmation tying a Minneapolis–St. Paul sighting to a definitive event.

🔍 Circumstances

Reports were collected statewide in Minnesota with MUFON investigators documenting cases; the Minnesota MUFON director cited roughly 99 Minnesota sightings in 2020 by November 17, 2020. The discussion highlighted external factors such as satellite constellations and increased skywatcher activity during the pandemic, and referenced historical local anecdotes (e.g., the Prior Lake case) without presenting a confirmed single incident.

👤 Physical Description

The 2020 reporting did not provide a consistent physical description for the sightings; reports generally described lights or aerial phenomena in the sky, with some explanations pointing to satellites or aircraft and others remaining unexplained.

ℹ️ Additional Details

Key figures include MUFON Minnesota Director Tom Maher; the state reportedly has around 80 MUFON volunteers. The narrative includes references to broader state and national trends in 2020 and mentions a notable prior local anecdote (Prior Lake) without public corroboration of a single Minneapolis–St. Paul case.

🔗 Sources (4)

👥 Community Contributions

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