Where Are Friday's Greatest Severe Weather Risks In Minnesota?

We might be getting into mid-September, but that doesn't mean we're done with severe weather chances in Minnesota.

Summer-like temperatures on Friday will brew up some thunderstorms in the later parts of the day, ahead of cooler, more fall-like temperatures this weekend and heading into next week.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has the northern two-thirds of Minnesota in a 2-out-of-5 risk of severe thunderstorms for Friday, including areas spanning from Willmar to St. Cloud, the Brainerd Lakes Area, Bemidji, Duluth, and the Iron Range.

That area (seen in yellow on the map below) across Minnesota is the greatest area of severe weather risk in the country today. In a smaller area within that yellow spot on the map is where the highest risk for tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail is expected.

Tornado risks

While the possibility of a tornado covers nearly all of the same area as the yellow area of overall storm risk, the heart of that territory sees the greatest chance of tornado development Friday, according to the SPC.

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Those highest-potential areas for tornadoes include Alexandria, the Brainerd area, Grand Rapids, Bemidji, and Hibbing.

Wind risks

The area at greatest risk for damaging winds with these storms covers a similar footprint as the overall risk map above, with cities like Willmar, Brainerd, Bemidji, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, and Duluth in the greatest area of risk, as seen in yellow below.

Hail risks

While there is a chance of large hail across much of Minnesota, the greatest chances are a little farther west, including Willmar, Fergus Falls, Bemidji, Brainerd, St. Cloud, and International Falls, with western parts of the Iron Range also included in the area (marked in yellow).

Storm timing

Timing of these storms will see development in the mid-late afternoon hours across the western and central parts of Minnesota, with storm chances continuing through the evening hours.