Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

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Steamy and stormy. That’s the mantra for the Upper Midwest this week. 

A gnarly Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) pushed a 

 across North Dakota last night and into Minnesota this morning as forecast. 

Wind gusts as high as 83 mph were recorded in North Dakota and near Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The wind was so intense at turbine level that it bent these wind turbine blades in Fergus Falls.

The gusts flipped over this camper in Otter Tail.

The severe winds downed trees and sent an unwelcome guest into this home.

The MCS generated an impressive and scary-looking shelf cloud on the leading edge that blew into the Twin Cities this morning. These cloud features are common on the leading edges of intense MCS structures.

Today’s severe weather risk zone shifts into Minnesota. Severe storms are likely again today across much of central and northeast Minnesota. Here’s the risk zone from the Duluth NWS office. 

The most favored area for severe storms favors a broad zone between the Twin Cities and Duluth. Higher than usual low-level wind shear means an elevated tornado risk in this area.

Storms that form west and north of the Twin Cities today may work down into the Twin Cities area later tonight.

The excessive heat warning continues until 8 pm tonight for the greater Twin Cities area. A heat advisory covers much of southern Minnesota.

Heat index values could reach the 100 to 105 degree range today.

Stay alert for severe weather watches and warning today. Get up to the minute updates at the 

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

An excessive heat warning and severe storms risk today for parts of Minnesota.

Steamy and stormy: Highest severe risk favors central Minnesota

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