Tornado Watch Issued for St. Cloud Area; Severe Storms, Damaging Winds Possible Through 8:00 P.M.

(KNSI) – A tornado watch has been issued for the St. Cloud area until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday.

The National Weather Service believes all the ingredients are right for thunderstorms to form over central and eastern Minnesota. Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Morrison and Wright County are in the danger zone.

Meteorologists say there is an enhanced risk, level three of five, of severe thunderstorms over eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. There is a slight risk, level two of five, of severe thunderstorms over central Minnesota and a marginal risk, level one of five, of severe thunderstorms over western and far southern Minnesota.

A few storms could be strong enough to produce large hail, damaging winds or tornadoes as they move east towards Wisconsin.

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