'Unstable' Environment Sets Stage For Potential Storms: MN Weather

TWIN CITIES, MN — The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch r central Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro area.

Counties covered by the watch include Wright, Hennepin, Anoka, Ramsey, Washington, Dakota, Scott, and more.

"The environment is becoming more unstable for potential thunderstorms this afternoon/evening from central to northeastern MN and northwest WI," the NWS said at about 3:30 p.m.

The main threats Tuesday evening are thunderstorms, damaging winds, and hail.

Check out the potential timeline for rain and storms below:

Here's the week-ahead NWS forecast from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport:

Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 89. South southwest wind around 15 mph.

Tuesday Night: 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4am. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11am, then a slight chance of showers between 11am and noon. Cloudy, with a steady temperature around 65. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Breezy, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 76. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast after midnight.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. East northeast wind around 10 mph.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. North northeast wind 10 to 15 mph.

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