Severe Storms Threaten Minnesota with Two Rounds of Thunderstorms on Wednesday Minnesota’s Weather Authority has issued a Forecast First Alert for Wednesday, warning of potential strong to severe thunderstorms that could impact the state during the afternoon and evening hours. The Storm Prediction Center has placed much of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro area, under an Enhanced Risk (Level 3 out of 5) for severe thunderstorms. The forecast outlines two distinct rounds of storms, each with specific timing and potential impacts. The first round of storms is expected to develop between midnight and 5 a.m. Wednesday, originating in the Dakotas and moving eastward into Minnesota. This system is anticipated to organize into a squall line capable of producing damaging wind gusts, particularly in western Minnesota. Showers and thunderstorms are projected to reach the Twin Cities metro area between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. The primary concern during this period is straight-line winds, which could pose a risk to structures and outdoor activities. From 5 a.m. to noon Wednesday, morning storms will gradually shift eastward. The forecast highlights this phase as critical, as lingering cloud cover and leftover rain from the earlier storms could influence the severity of subsequent weather. The Storm Prediction Center will closely monitor this transition to assess how much instability remains in the region. The second round of storms is expected to develop along and near the I-35 corridor between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday. Daytime heating combined with lingering boundaries from the morning storms will likely fuel this system. As these storms push eastward into Wisconsin, the risk of severe weather is anticipated to increase, with the greatest threat potentially shifting farther east. From 5 p.m.#storm_prediction_center #twin_cities #minnesota_weather_authority #i_35_corridor #kstp_app
