Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Tracking storm potential through Friday

Slight severe risk for southwest Minnesota Thursday.

Severe weather risk areas Thursday
Severe weather risk areas Thursday.
Twin Cities National Weather Service

We’re tracking a couple more chances for scattered strong to severe storms across Minnesota through Friday. A slight risk for severe storms covers southwest Minnesota Thursday, with a marginal risk zone extending into much of central Minnesota.

The first wave looks likely to cross into western Minnesota Thursday evening.

Several forecast models depict a broken line of strong to potentially severe storms moving eastward toward eastern Minnesota including the greater Twin Cities area by around midnight Thursday night.

NOAA’s FV3 model shows the likely storm progression. The forecast model loop below runs between 7 p.m. Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday.

NOAA FV3 model
NOAA FV3 model between 7 pm Thursday and 1 am Friday.
NOAA via tropical tidbits

Friday storm potential

A second wave of storms looks likely to form Friday afternoon ahead of a weak low-pressure wave. NOAA’s FV3 model shows scattered storm clusters developing Friday afternoon across southern and central Minnesota.

NOAA FV3
NOAA FV3 model between 1 pm and 7 pm Friday.
NOAA via tropical tidbits

Both storm waves are likely to be scattered in coverage. A few cells could produce large hail and potentially damaging wind gusts. Keep an eye out for possible severe weather watches and warnings Thursday night and Friday.

Highs Thursday will hover in the 70s north and 80s south across Minnesota.

Forecast high temperatures Thursday
Forecast high temperatures Thursday.
NOAA