Severe thunderstorm watch until 7 p.m. for central Minnesota includes NW Twin Cities

It’s a stormy Monday across much of central Minnesota.

Severe thunderstorms have already produces large hail and damaging 70 mph winds across parts of west-central Minnesota Monday afternoon:

• 5 SSW Norcross [Grant Co, MN] Mesonet reports Tstm Wnd Gst of M70 MPH at 1:47 PM CDT -- NDAWN observation site.

• 2 N Morris [Stevens Co, MN] Emergency Mngr reports Tstm Wnd Dmg at 1:55 PM CDT -- Ten to 16 inch diameter trees and various limbs snapped off at a residence north of Morris along Hwy 59. Time estimated based on radar.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for central Minnesota including the far northwestern and northern counties of the Twin Cities.

The most favored window for storms in the greater Twin Cities is between about 6 p.m and 9 p.m. Monday evening. Here’s the Storm Prediction Center statement:

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 354 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK

230 PM CDT Mon Jun 2 2025

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Central and North-Central Minnesota

* Effective this Monday afternoon and evening from 230 PM until 700 PM CDT.

* Primary threats include... Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

SUMMARY...A cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms associated with a mid-level disturbance will likely continue east-northeastward across the Watch area this afternoon. The stronger thunderstorm cores and outflow will be potentially capable of severe gusts and wind damage. The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 55 statute miles north and south of a line from 15 miles south southwest of Alexandria MN to 50 miles east southeast of Brainerd MN.

Stay alert for possible warnings across the region into Monday evening.