Weather Forecast
By Joseph Dames
/ CBS Minnesota
NEXT Weather: 5 p.m. report for May 21, 2024
MINNEAPOLIS —Tuesday is a NEXT Weather Alert day in Minnesota, with more storms coming and severe weather likely in parts of the state, including the possibility of tornadoes in southern Minnesota.
Southeastern Minnesota has the greatest risk for severe weather, while the risk in the metro is slightly lesser. Storms capable of forming large hail, damaging wind and isolated tornadoes are possible.
Tornado warnings in southeastern Minnesota
The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning for parts of southeastern Minnesota, including Winona and Wabasha until 6:45 p.m. Anyone in those areas is advised to take cover immediately, move indoors and away from windows.
As of early Tuesday afternoon, tornado watches are in effect across much of southeastern Minnesota and extending into Iowa. Those alerts are expected to expire at 9 p.m. The storm is moving rapidly, and as the evening continues, the NWS is trimming away the watches on the southwestern end of the system.
A confirmed tornado touched down in southeastern Minnesota between Winona and Wabasha around 6:15 p.m., though not much information about it was immediately available.
Flooding threat, thunderstorms
There is also a flooding threat. Eastern Minnesota — including the metro — is under a flood watch until 7 p.m.
In Mankato, there are reports of street flooding.
Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for parts of southern Minnesota, including Dodge, Fillmore, and Olmsted counties. Between 5 p.m. and 5:15 p.m., there were over 1,000 lightning strikes in southern Minnesota. The system is not leaving behind much hail, but the strongest line of the storm is bringing strong gusts of wind along with it.
Though the severe weather threat ended around 5:30 p.m. for the metro area, a flash flood watch is in effect until midnight for most of the state.
Storm timing
In the northwestern part of the state, storms will bring heavy rain as early as 10 a.m. and continue throughout the day. Multiple inches of rain are likely and flooding is possible, though severe weather is not expected.
By around 6:30 p.m., WCCO NEXT Weather Meteorologists estimate that the most severe parts of the system will have pushed on east into Wisconsin. The rain will stick around, especially in the metro, before it clears off to the north by Wednesday morning.
Wednesday should be mostly clear, aside from some rain up north.
When it's all said done, the Twin Cities should see around 1-2 inches, while northern Minnesota could get as much as 2.5.
Storms leave thousands without power
Xcel Energy reported around 24,000 customers without power on Tuesday evening, as the storm moved through southern Minnesota and the metro area.
Most of the outages impacted the eastern parts of the metro area.
Severe weather preparedness
In case of a tornado or thunderstorm, there are many ways to be prepared beforehand.
For tornadoes, the Red Cross advises to identify a safe place to gather in the home during a tornado, including the basem*nt, storm cellar or interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. If you are under a tornado warning, find shelter right away. Also, stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued, take shelter in a substantial building or in a vehicle with the windows closed.
The Red Cross has many more tips to keep you safe in severe weather.
After-storm forecast
Wednesday should be relatively tame once this system clears. The morning may still be a bit windy, with a lingering shower or storm north and east. It will be slightly cooler in the upper 60s or near 70.
Thursday looks to be nice, with highs in the mid-70s and sunshine. It may be the lone day that doesn't have a threat for some rain.
The remainder of the week has isolated showers and storms in the forecast and highs in the 70s.
Memorial Day weekend is trending to be a mix of dry time and showers. Highs most of the weekend will be in the lower to mid-70s. There will be moments of sunshine and no concerns in the forecast for cabin or lake time.
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