Golf ball to ping pong ball-sized hail pelts Twin Cities into Wisconsin

Well, that escalated quickly!

Severe thunderstorms blew up rapidly over the greater Twin Cities Thursday afternoon. The storms dropped hail as large as ping pong balls across parts of the eastern Twin Cities.

The hail stripped some leaves from trees in parts of Minneapolis.

Here are some select hail reports from Thursday afternoon.

• 2 SSE Oakdale [Washington Co, MN1 NW Maplewood [Ramsey Co, MN] PUBLIC reports HAIL of ping pong ball size (M1.50 INCH) at 3:52 PM CDT

• 1 S ST. Paul [Ramsey Co, MN] PUBLIC reports HAIL of golf ball size (M1.75 INCH) at 3:55 PM CDT --

• 2 W Roberts [St. Croix Co, WI] PUBLIC reports HAIL of ping pong ball size (M1.50 INCH) at 4:22 PM CDT --

• 1 NW Baldwin [St. Croix Co, WI] TRAINED SPOTTER reports HAIL of golf ball size (M1.75 INCH) at 4:33 PM CDT --

• 2 NE Hammond [St. Croix Co, WI] PUBLIC reports HAIL of ping pong ball size (U1.50 INCH) at 4:34 PM CDT -- REPORT FROM MPING: PING PONG BALL (1.50 IN.).

Quiet Friday on the way

Our weather will mellow Friday. Highs will reach the upper 60s to near 70 degrees in the south, with 50s and even some 40s up north.

The weekend looks cool but mainly dry. Highs will be in the 50s Saturday to near 60 Sunday in the Twin Cites. There could be some frost north of the Twin Cities this weekend!