Severe Thunderstorms Possible for Minnesota Wednesday

(KNSI) — Roughly the same areas walloped by heavy snow are now bracing for the potential of severe thunderstorms this week.

A strong winter storm Friday brought widespread snow to the area, with accumulations ranging from a few inches around St. Cloud, to 21 inches of snow on St. Paul’s East Side. Now, the National Weather Service says thunderstorms are possible late Wednesday, with a slight risk of severe storms from the South Dakota border over toward Hutchinson, through parts of the Twin Cities, the St. Croix River Valley, and down to La Crosse. The main threat with this system is damaging winds, but models are showing there is also a small tornado risk for areas between Worthington, Faribault, Rochester, and along the Minnesota/Iowa border. Central Minnesota is under a general threat for thunderstorms on Wednesday.

A wind advisory for sustained winds around 20 to 30 miles an hour with gusts between 40 and 55 miles an hour has been issued for about the southern third of Minnesota, including Kandiyohi, Meeker, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright Counties. That is in effect from 6:00 Wednesday night to 9:00 Thursday morning. A high wind watch is in effect for southeastern and southwestern Minnesota for gusts over 55 miles an hour.

Strong winds and falling temps will lead to windchills around zero Thursday morning.

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