Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 146, NWS Twin Cities, MN

July 4, 2026Kanabec County, Mille Lacs County, Morrison County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 4, 2026, 4:36 PM CDT for Kanabec County, Mille Lacs County, Morrison County, Minnesota. It was in force for 54 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Jul 4, 2026, 4:36 PM CDT (21:36 UTC)
Expired: Jul 4, 2026, 5:30 PM CDT
In force: 54 min
Issued by: NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Kanabec County, MN, Mille Lacs County, MN, Morrison County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 126 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:38 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 125 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 944 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -38 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 925 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 3 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: -4 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

261 
WUUS53 KMPX 042136
SVRMPX
MNC065-095-097-042230-
/O.NEW.KMPX.SV.W.0146.260704T2136Z-260704T2230Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
436 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  East Central Morrison County in central Minnesota...
  West Central Kanabec County in east central Minnesota...
  Central Mille Lacs County in east central Minnesota...

* Until 530 PM CDT.

* At 436 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles south of
  Onamia, or 32 miles east of Little Falls, moving southeast at 15
  mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
           roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, Rum River State Forest, Hillman and
  Onamia.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large
hail.

&&

LAT...LON 4610 9403 4611 9363 4587 9337 4582 9376
      4582 9387
TIME...MOT...LOC 2136Z 334DEG 11KT 4597 9369

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

CTG

1 follow-up statement

719 
WWUS53 KMPX 042154
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
454 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

MNC097-042204-
/O.CAN.KMPX.SV.W.0146.000000T0000Z-260704T2230Z/
Morrison MN-
454 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR EAST CENTRAL MORRISON
COUNTY...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning has
been cancelled.

&&

LAT...LON 4603 9375 4606 9358 4587 9337 4593 9374
TIME...MOT...LOC 2136Z 334DEG 11KT 4596 9369

$$


MNC065-095-042230-
/O.CON.KMPX.SV.W.0146.000000T0000Z-260704T2230Z/
Kanabec MN-Mille Lacs MN-
454 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR
WEST CENTRAL KANABEC AND CENTRAL MILLE LACS COUNTIES...

At 454 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles south of
Onamia, or 34 miles east of Little Falls, moving southeast at 10 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
         roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
  Rum River State Forest.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large
hail.

&&

LAT...LON 4603 9375 4606 9358 4587 9337 4593 9374
TIME...MOT...LOC 2136Z 325DEG 7KT 4598 9369

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

CTG

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Twin Cities, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 4, 2:55 PM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Isolated to scatted thunderstorms are forecast through 9PM/10PM this evening. A few thunderstorms could become strong to severe with the main threats being heavy rain, lightning, gusty winds, and a few instances of hail up to 1 inch.
Quiet and warm weather is expected Sunday through at least Monday night. The next best chance for showers and thunderstorms arrives late Tuesday and Wednesday.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 4, 2:55 PM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
255 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Isolated to scatted thunderstorms are forecast through
  9PM/10PM this evening. A few thunderstorms could become strong
  to severe with the main threats being heavy rain, lightning,
  gusty winds, and a few instances of hail up to 1 inch.

- Quiet and warm weather is expected Sunday through at least
  Monday night. The next best chance for showers and
  thunderstorms arrives late Tuesday and Wednesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 233 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

19Z satellite shows partly cloudy skies across central and
southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A muggy afternoon and
evening is expected with temperatures continuing to warm into
the 80s and dew points rising into the upper 60s and 70s. The
muggy conditions will also allow the atmosphere to continue to
destabilize with SBCAPE values peaking in the 2000 to 2500 J/kg
range this afternoon. This instability combined with a weak
passing overhead disturbance will support some isolated to
scattered showers and thunderstorms through the afternoon and
evening. However, expect thunderstorms to be more pulse-like
due to rather weak 0-6km shear values around 20 kts at best,
mid-level lapse rates around 6.4 C/km, DCAPE values of 800 to
900 J/kg, and overall weak ascent. Should a thunderstorm be able
to last long enough to become strong to severe, the threat
looks to be gusty winds and instances of hail up to 1 inch.
Periods of heavy rainfall are also possible with PWATs right
around 1.5-1.6 inches. Because of the over pulse-like nature of
thunderstorms, it will be difficult to pin point exactly where
they will develop. That being said, the greatest coverage,
timing, and chances (up to 60%) of thunderstorms looks to be
across central Minnesota through 6PM. This is due to being in
closer proximity to better upper-level support. There is
generally a 30% to 40% chance of a shower or thunderstorm across
Minnesota and western Wisconsin through 9PM/10PM this evening.
Chances quickly decrease after sunset but an isolated shower or
thunderstorm cannot be ruled out for southern portions through
2AM.

Upper-level flow is forecast to be more northerly on Sunday as a
ridge begins to build into the Upper Mississippi River Valley.
This means that height rises aloft will suppress most convection
chances to close out the holiday weekend. That being said, a
stray shower or thunderstorm during the afternoon hours cannot
be ruled out for far southeastern Minnesota. Chances of this
occurring are only around 15% at best. There is a reasonable
amount of consensus that the positively aligned ridge axis will
move over the area on Monday. So Monday's forecast calls for a
warm day with highs in the mid 80s and mostly sunny skies. By
Monday evening, shower and thunderstorm chances return as a weak
shortwave traverses the area. Because the wave passes over
later in the day/closer to sunset, overall coverage is forecast
to be on the lower end. If the shortwave traverses the area
earlier in the afternoon and around peak heating on Monday, more
areas could see showers and thunderstorms.

A more potent shortwave and an associated front looks to
approach the forecast area late Tuesday into Wednesday. This is
currently the next best chance (60% to 70%) for showers and
thunderstorms across the area. For Thursday and Friday, a
largely zonal pattern looks to set up with embedded shortwaves
passing through. There is a reasonable amount of uncertainty on
timing and strength of the shortwaves which will influence the
shower and thunderstorm chances to end the work week.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1230 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast to develop in
the general area of KAXN between 20Z and 21Z. Convection then
shifts to the south and east through 04Z Sunday. Isolated
thunderstorm development could occur near KMKT until 08Z. All
thunderstorm potential is reflected as PROB30 groups at this
time due to 30 percent confidence in direct impacts to any
given terminal. If a terminal does see rain this afternoon and
evening and clouds clear out overnight, low cloud/fog
development is possible. There is some uncertainty in how dense
any fog/low cloud cover will be so went with a FEW010 or SCT010
group at this time.

KMSP...Thunderstorm chances have continued to trend later, with
the greatest potential at KMSP between 00Z and 04Z Sunday. If
there is rain at or in the area this evening and clouds clear
out fast enough, there is potential for fog/low cloud
development in the 10Z to 16Z timeframe Sunday morning.
Confidence in how dense any fog/low cloud cover will be is
rather low at this time.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
SUN...VFR, with low MVFR potential in morning. Winds N 5-10 kts.
MON...VFR. Winds SE 5-10kts.
TUE...VFR. Chc TS overnight. Winds SW 5-15kts.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...None.
WI...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...TDH
AVIATION...WFO MPX

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 4, 3:42 PM CDT, 54 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
342 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
052045-
Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns-
Benton-Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-
Kandiyohi-Meeker-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-
Yellow Medicine-Renville-McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-
Redwood-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth-
Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-Polk-Barron-Rusk-
St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Eau Claire-
342 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central and
southern Minnesota, and west central Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms remain possible through at
least sunset. The strongest thunderstorms will be capable of
frequent lightning, gusty winds, and locally heavy rain. There
could be a few instances of small hail as well.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation will not be needed.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 4, 3:31 PM CDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
331 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0330 PM     Hail             5 N Sauk Centre         45.81N 94.96W
07/04/2026  M1.00 Inch       Todd               MN   Trained Spotter

&&

CTG

Special weather statement, Jul 4, 3:31 PM CDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
331 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

MNZ042-042100-
Todd MN-
331 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN TODD COUNTY UNTIL 4 PM
CDT...

At 331 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Long Prairie, or 21 miles east of Alexandria, moving south at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Clotho, Long Prairie, Lake Osakis, Round Prairie, Long Prairie
  Airport, Little Sauk, Grey Eagle, Birch Lakes State Forest, West
  Union, North Shore, Burtrum, Pleasant Beach and Swanville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

&&

LAT...LON 4605 9515 4607 9465 4593 9465 4593 9464
      4577 9464 4577 9514 4593 9514 4593 9515
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 346DEG 14KT 4597 9494

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Dunleavy

Local storm report, Jul 4, 3:37 PM CDT, 59 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
337 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0335 PM     Hail             2 N Long Prairie        46.01N 94.87W
07/04/2026  M1.00 Inch       Todd               MN   Trained Spotter

&&

CTG

Local storm report, Jul 4, 3:58 PM CDT, 38 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
358 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0338 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     6 WNW Round Prairie     45.95N 95.00W
07/04/2026                   Todd               MN   Law Enforcement

            Law Enforcement reported trees and
            powerlines down west of Long Prairie. Time
            estimated via radar.

&&

RMD

Local storm report, Jul 4, 4:00 PM CDT, 36 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
400 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0357 PM     Hail             Sauk Centre             45.74N 94.96W
07/04/2026  M1.00 Inch       Stearns            MN   Emergency Mngr

            Quarter size hail measured in Sauk Centre.

&&

RMD

Local storm report, Jul 4, 4:34 PM CDT, 2 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
434 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0434 PM     Hail             New Munich              45.63N 94.75W
07/04/2026  M1.00 Inch       Stearns            MN   Trained Spotter

&&

RMD

The office that day

Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 3, 10:51 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MPX	Ramsey, Washington	103 min
Jul 4, 2:09 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MPX	Todd	51 min
Jul 4, 2:55 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MPX	Todd	35 min
Jul 4, 3:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Todd	38 min
Jul 4, 3:31 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MPX	Todd	29 min
Jul 4, 3:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Stearns, Todd	38 min
Jul 4, 3:47 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Todd	43 min
Jul 4, 3:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Stearns	35 min
Jul 4, 4:11 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MPX	Stearns	34 min
Jul 4, 4:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Kandiyohi, Stearns	50 min
Jul 4, 4:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Stearns	40 min
Jul 4, 4:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Renville	27 min
Jul 4, 5:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Benton, Sherburne, Stearns	43 min
Jul 4, 5:10 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MPX	Kanabec	65 min
Jul 4, 5:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Kandiyohi, Meeker, Stearns	46 min
Jul 4, 5:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Kandiyohi	40 min
Jul 4, 5:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Kanabec, Mille Lacs	41 min
Jul 4, 5:37 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MPX	Benton, Sherburne, Stearns	2 hr
Jul 4, 5:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Kanabec	33 min
Jul 4, 5:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Kandiyohi, Meeker	48 min
Jul 4, 6:02 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MPX	Wright	43 min
Jul 4, 6:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Wright	52 min
Jul 4, 6:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MPX	Lac qui Parle	60 min
Jul 4, 6:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Lac qui Parle	23 min
Jul 4, 6:55 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MPX	Hennepin	50 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 2026 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.