Where The Biggest Severe Weather Threats Are Today In Minnesota, Wisconsin

After days of heat and humidity, the atmosphere across the region is primed to turn stormy, and forecasters have a clear eye on where the roughest weather is most likely to land today.

If you've got outdoor plans in the southern half of Minnesota or across Wisconsin, it's worth keeping one eye on the sky and the other on your phone for any important alerts that could very well pop up.

Where The Threat Is Highest

The NOAA Storm Prediction Center has placed southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin under a level 3 "enhanced" risk for severe weather — the sharpest threat zone in the region today.

You can view the latest severe weather outlook directly from the SPC. The Twin Cities metro sits along the northern edge of that risk, with a level 2 "slight" risk extending across a broader stretch of southern Minnesota and into Wisconsin.

Simply put, the farther south and east you are, the better the chance of seeing a strong storm, at least as of early this afternoon.

As of early this afternoon, severe thunderstorm watches were already in effect for dozens of counties across southern Minnesota and into Wisconsin. Because those watches shift and expand as the day goes on, the best way to see whether yours is included is the NWS live watches and warnings map, which updates in real time.

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The Hazards To Watch For

Forecasters say all modes of severe weather are on the table where the strongest storms develop, including:

• Damaging wind gusts up to 80 mph
• Large hail, some stones up to two inches in diameter
• Isolated tornadoes
• Flash flooding from slow-moving, heavy downpours

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The wind and hail are the headline threats, but the tornado risk, while lower, isn't zero, as a couple can't be ruled out where storms turn most intense.

For a rundown of what's expected, the NWS Twin Cities office and the NWS La Crosse office both cover this corridor.

When It's Expected To Hit

Timing is everything, especially if you have plans in the area. The main round of strong to severe storms is expected to fire across southern Minnesota in the late afternoon, roughly between 4 and 6 p.m., then track east and northeast into Wisconsin through the late-night and overnight hours.

So, the threat doesn't end at sunset, with storms potentially rolling through well after dark, so it's smart to have a way to get warnings while you sleep.

What To Do To Prepare

Make sure you can receive alerts by having a weather app with notifications turned on or a NOAA weather radio.

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Also, have a plan for where you'd take shelter if a warning is issued for your area, bring in or secure anything loose in the yard ahead of the wind, and don't try to drive through flooded roads.

It's important to also remember the difference between a watch and a warning. The National Weather Service issues a watch when conditions are favorable, so people should stay alert. A warning means severe weather is imminent, so take cover right away.

Storms this time of year can fire up and intensify fast, so the picture may change through the afternoon and evening. Keep the live watches and warnings map handy, and check back with local forecasters as the day develops.