MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for southwestern and southern Minnesota as a long-lived storm system pushes east from South Dakota. Forecasters say the main threats are wind gusts up to 85 mph and ping pong-sized hail.
The watch covers 18 Minnesota counties, and weather officials say the storm could continue to organize into a derecho-level event as it moves through the region.
Storm Threat Across Minnesota
The counties in the watch area are Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Freeborn, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Steele, Waseca and Watonwan. The National Weather Service said residents should be ready for damaging winds if warnings are issued.
Officials urged people to move to an interior room of the home if severe thunderstorm warnings are posted. The Storm Prediction Center also had part of Minnesota in an enhanced risk area through 6 a.m. Sunday.
South Dakota Storm Escalates
Earlier in the evening, the National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls issued a rare particularly dangerous situation severe thunderstorm watch for South Dakota. That warning called for wind gusts that could exceed 100 mph at times, with winds expected to hit 70 to 85 mph during the event.
The strongest wind threat was expected along the Interstate 90 corridor in the southern and eastern parts of the state. Ping pong-sized hail was listed as the secondary threat.
More Storm Chances Sunday
Forecasters said conditions could remain active into Sunday, with another round of severe weather possible in Minnesota. The state was placed in a slight risk zone for severe storms later in the day.
For a storm to qualify as a derecho, it must leave a wind damage path at least 240 miles long and 60 miles wide, with gusts of 58 mph or higher and some gusts reaching at least 75 mph.
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