Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 158, NWS Twin Cities, MN

July 6, 20265 counties in Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 6, 2026, 10:01 PM CDT for 5 counties in Minnesota. It was in force for 44 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 6, 2026, 10:01 PM CDT (03:01 UTC)
Expired
Jul 6, 2026, 10:45 PM CDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Douglas County, MN, Pope County, MN, Stearns County, MN, Stevens County, MN, Swift County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 188 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:00 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 6, 8:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 3.0 hours before the alert went out and 185 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2026-07-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1196 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2026-07-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -23 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
1196 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-27 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1437 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-23 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
114 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

251 
WUUS53 KMPX 070301
SVRMPX
MNC041-121-145-149-151-070345-
/O.NEW.KMPX.SV.W.0158.260707T0301Z-260707T0345Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1001 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  West Central Stearns County in central Minnesota...
  Southeastern Douglas County in west central Minnesota...
  Pope County in west central Minnesota...
  Stevens County in west central Minnesota...
  Northern Swift County in west central Minnesota...

* Until 1045 PM CDT.

* At 1001 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line from
  over Alexandria to 17 miles southwest of Chokio, or along a line
  from over Alexandria to 29 miles west of Morris, moving southeast
  at 30 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...
  Kensington, Chokio, Morris, Lake Hattie, Forada, Cyrus, Lowry,
  Starbuck, Hancock, Glenwood, Villard, Lake Oliver, Grove Lake, Lake
  Hassel, Gilchrist, Brooten, Elrosa and Belgrade.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. These storms are capable of producing damaging winds and
large hail.

&&

LAT...LON 4559 9625 4576 9576 4588 9533 4577 9514
      4547 9473 4541 9523 4541 9526 4526 9612
      4539 9612 4541 9612 4541 9624 4559 9624
TIME...MOT...LOC 0301Z 331DEG 25KT 4590 9535 4572 9573 4547 9649

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

$$

Dye
1 follow-up statement
019 
WWUS53 KMPX 070346
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1046 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

MNC041-121-145-149-151-070356-
/O.EXP.KMPX.SV.W.0158.000000T0000Z-260707T0345Z/
Douglas MN-Pope MN-Stearns MN-Stevens MN-Swift MN-
1046 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR WEST CENTRAL STEARNS,
SOUTHEASTERN DOUGLAS, POPE, STEVENS AND NORTHERN SWIFT COUNTIES...

The storms which prompted the warning have weakened below severe
limits, and no longer pose an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning has been allowed to expire. However, gusty
winds and heavy rain are still possible with these thunderstorms.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for
portions of central and west central Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4559 9625 4576 9576 4588 9533 4577 9514
      4547 9473 4541 9523 4541 9526 4526 9612
      4539 9612 4541 9612 4541 9624 4559 9624
TIME...MOT...LOC 0301Z 331DEG 25KT 4589 9535 4571 9573 4547 9649

$$

Dye

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 6, 6:38 PM CDT, 3 hours 23 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Storms are expected to develop over eastern North Dakota into northwest Minnesota this afternoon. These will move into western and central MN this evening, with some strong to severe storms being possible before they dissipate overnight.
  • There are Slight Risks for both severe weather and excessive rainfall Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday night. Uncertainty remains with what latitude a west to east oriented band of heavy rain will fall Tuesday night.
  • Heat and humidity start building again over the weekend, with potential for a heat wave increasing for Sunday into the first half of next week.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 6, 6:38 PM CDT, 3 hours 23 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
638 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Storms are expected to develop over eastern North Dakota into northwest
  Minnesota this afternoon. These will move into western and
  central MN this evening, with some strong to severe storms
  being possible before they dissipate overnight.

- There are Slight Risks for both severe weather and excessive rainfall
  Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday night. Uncertainty remains
  with what latitude a west to east oriented band of heavy rain
  will fall Tuesday night.

- Heat and humidity start building again over the weekend, with
  potential for a heat wave increasing for Sunday into the first
  half of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 207 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

Regional visible satellite imagery highlights a bubbly Cu field
across the region and a frontal boundary upstream over the Dakotas.
Temperatures have warmed well into the 80s with surface dew point
temperatures in upper 60s and lower 70s. This has made a warm, humid
environment typical of Summer. Moderate instability has built into
the Upper Midwest given the plume of moisture in place which will
result in thunderstorm development across the frontal boundary over
the eastern Dakotas this afternoon. This front will sag south over
the next 12 hours or so bringing a decaying MCS across our western
and central Minnesota counties. The SPC extended their slight and
marginal risks further east to include portions of central Minnesota
that were previously in general thunder. The environment in place is
favorable from a wind/hail threat perspective, but timing will
become an issue as storms press further southeast toward
southern/eastern Minnesota and W WI. The loss of daytime heating
should limit the threat of surface-based convection, but two
scenarios could play out. 1) a decaying MCS moves into
Douglas/Todd/Morrison/Stevens counties just before sunset and
isolated damaging wind reports come in. 2) A cold pool is able to
develop and a stronger MCS is able to move into those aforementioned
C MN counties with a continued severe wind threat that continues
deeper into MPX cwa. The lack of low level jet support doesn't favor
continued development as the bow dives towards S MN and the Twin
Cities.

Timing places it in are area between 00z and 02z this evening.
Forecast soundings across the area show a favorable environment that
loses instability quickly after the loss of daytime heating. Wind
shear profiles are better to our northwest as they're able to tap
into enhanced winds tied to the shortwave across southern Canada.
Models agree that the line of storms will gradually weaken and
likely dissipate before reaching the Twin Cities and points
south/east overnight. These areas do not have a severe risk today or
tonight, but later on Tuesday. Heavy rain is also a concern tied to
the high PW values along and ahead of the boundary. Guidance doesn't
support training or stalling storms so high end rain chances appear
low.

Tuesday and Wednesday offer a similar set up. The frontal boundary
will be draped across the region. There is some uncertainty with
it's placement, but it should be somewhere over the MPX forecast
area... likely the northern half. Strengthening jet level winds will
support broad ascent Tuesday afternoon while a LLJ develops Tuesday
evening. This interaction with the frontal boundary will be key to
how widespread severe risk is and who gets what. We'll have a better
handle of where after tonight's MCS, but the current favorite would
be across west central/SW MN. Strong winds and large hail are the
primary hazards for Day 2's Slight risk. Timing will once again be
an issue as the convection moves into the area around sunset/after
loss of daytime heating again. Scattered thunderstorms are likely to
move along the boundary with with a Slight ERO, too. Training storms
can lead to locally higher amounts of rain and a flash flood risk.

Wednesday will likely have lingering convection that'll taint the
environment but redevelopment is likely once again. Severe threat is
low but non zero and a Marginal risk is in place. The remainder of
the period looks pleasant as an upper level ridge builds into the
mid-mississippi valley region for the weekend. Model guidance brings
a 600dm 500mb ridge centered over S MN this weekend. That'll lead to
hot and humid conditions and push the storm track northward through
Canada or "up and over" the ridge. The possibility of extreme heat
exists, but it's too far out to have much confidence.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 633 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

Thunderstorms are developing along a front across northwestern
Minnesota this evening. This line of storms is expected to
continue to push southeastward this evening, but should
gradually weaken as the front stalls out. There's some
uncertainty about thunderstorm development across southwestern
Minnesota, so have left KRWF/KMKT out of any TSRA mention. Main
change for this forecast was to tighten up timing for TSRA and
to convert KAXN and KSTC from PROB30s to TEMPOs. Some MVFR cigs
are expected early tomorrow morning for central Minnesota.
Winds are expected to be 10kts or less through the period. More
showers and thunderstorms are possible tomorrow afternoon
(particularly for KAXN/KSTC), but confidence is too low to
include in this TAF set.

KMSP...Models are suggesting that the line of storms mentioned
above may make it to KMSP after all. Have introduced TSRA
between 06-09z. There may be a chance for thunderstorms late
tomorrow, but uncertainty is too high at the moment.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
WED...MVFR/SHRA likely, chc IFR/-TSRA. Wind SW to NW 5-10kts.
THU...VFR. Wind NE 5kts.
FRI...VFR. Wind SE 5kts.
&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...BPH
AVIATION...Dye
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 6, 1:55 PM CDT, 8 hours 6 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
155 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
071900-
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-
155 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.

Strong to severe storms are possible tonight coming from the
west/northwest.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Strong to severe storms are possible Tuesday afternoon into
Wednesday. Further rain showers on Wednesday could lead to
localized flooding, favoring central Minnesota.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation may be needed.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 6, 9:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDouglas, Morrison, Pope, Stevens, Todd58 min
Jul 6, 10:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBenton, Douglas, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Stearns, Todd38 min
Jul 6, 10:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXKanabec41 min
Jul 6, 10:42 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXBenton, Mille Lacs, Stearns, Swift33 min
Jul 7, 12:28 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXChippewa32 min
Jul 7, 1:33 PM CDTFlood WatchMPXBenton, Douglas, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pope and 3 more15 hr
Jul 7, 2:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXRedwood, Renville, Yellow Medicine56 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 2026Every 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.