Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 159, NWS Twin Cities, MN
NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 6, 2026, 10:07 PM CDT for 6 counties in Minnesota. It was in force for 38 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Jul 6, 2026, 10:07 PM CDT (03:07 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 6, 2026, 10:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 38 min
- Issued by
- NWS Twin Cities, MN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Benton County, MN, Douglas County, MN, Mille Lacs County, MN, Morrison County, MN, Stearns County, MN, Todd County, MN
The radar
The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 157 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:11 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 6, 10:15 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | Little Falls, MN | Delayed report, time estimated from radar. Morrison County EM reported multiple trees and tree limbs down across Little Falls, MN. A larger tree was blown down on power line within the town. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 8 minutes after it went out.
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 6, 8:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 3.1 hours before the alert went out and 156 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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted.
289
WUUS53 KMPX 070307
SVRMPX
MNC009-041-095-097-145-153-070345-
/O.NEW.KMPX.SV.W.0159.260707T0307Z-260707T0345Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1007 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026
The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Northern Benton County in central Minnesota...
Morrison County in central Minnesota...
Northern Stearns County in central Minnesota...
Todd County in central Minnesota...
Mille Lacs County in east central Minnesota...
Northeastern Douglas County in west central Minnesota...
* Until 1045 PM CDT.
* At 1007 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line from
17 miles north of Isle to 5 miles northwest of Alexandria, or along
a line from 48 miles northeast of Little Falls to 5 miles northwest
of Alexandria, moving south at 30 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and small hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
* Locations impacted include...
Staples, Motley, Clarissa, Browerville, Alexandria, Long Prairie,
Little Falls, Pierz, Isle, Onamia, Royalton, Sauk Centre,
Holdingford, Melrose, Albany, Sartell, Avon, Collegeville and St.
Anthony.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. These storms are capable of producing damaging winds.
&&
LAT...LON 4603 9552 4611 9544 4611 9515 4637 9516
4637 9473 4630 9454 4633 9443 4627 9434
4623 9439 4616 9437 4616 9381 4624 9381
4625 9343 4600 9344 4598 9352 4583 9352
4547 9472
TIME...MOT...LOC 0307Z 341DEG 25KT 4639 9354 4608 9437 4596 9543
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Dye2 follow-up statements
463
WWUS53 KMPX 070337
SVSMPX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1037 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026
MNC009-041-095-097-145-153-070345-
/O.CON.KMPX.SV.W.0159.000000T0000Z-260707T0345Z/
Benton MN-Douglas MN-Mille Lacs MN-Morrison MN-Stearns MN-Todd MN-
1037 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 PM CDT
FOR NORTHERN BENTON, MORRISON, NORTHERN STEARNS, SOUTHERN TODD, MILLE
LACS AND EAST CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTIES...
At 1037 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line from
over Isle to 5 miles southwest of Melrose, or along a line from 42
miles north of Cambridge to 30 miles southeast of Alexandria, moving
southeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and small hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Randall, Long Prairie, Little Falls, Swanville, Sauk Centre, Pierz,
Upsala, Melrose, Isle, Onamia, Royalton, St. Anthony, Freeport,
Holdingford, Albany, Avon, Sartell and Collegeville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. These storms are capable of producing damaging winds.
&&
LAT...LON 4590 9534 4616 9437 4616 9381 4624 9381
4625 9355 4625 9343 4606 9344 4600 9344
4598 9351 4598 9352 4583 9352 4547 9472
TIME...MOT...LOC 0307Z 333DEG 25KT 4632 9356 4604 9428 4581 9503
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Dye707
WWUS53 KMPX 070346 RRA
SVSMPX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1046 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026
MNC009-041-095-097-145-153-070356-
/O.EXP.KMPX.SV.W.0159.000000T0000Z-260707T0345Z/
Benton MN-Douglas MN-Mille Lacs MN-Morrison MN-Stearns MN-Todd MN-
1046 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR NORTHERN BENTON,
MORRISON, NORTHERN STEARNS, SOUTHERN TODD, MILLE LACS AND EAST
CENTRAL DOUGLAS 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, east central, and west central Minnesota.
&&
LAT...LON 4590 9534 4616 9437 4616 9381 4624 9381
4625 9355 4625 9343 4606 9344 4600 9344
4598 9351 4598 9352 4583 9352 4547 9472
TIME...MOT...LOC 0337Z 333DEG 25KT 4613 9342 4586 9414 4563 9490
$$
DyeWhat 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 29 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 29 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 12 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 6, 9:02 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Douglas, Morrison, Pope, Stevens, Todd | 58 min |
| Jul 6, 10:01 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Douglas, Pope, Stearns, Stevens, Swift | 44 min |
| Jul 6, 10:34 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Kanabec | 41 min |
| Jul 6, 10:42 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Benton, Mille Lacs, Stearns, Swift | 33 min |
| Jul 7, 12:28 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MPX | Chippewa | 32 min |
| Jul 7, 1:33 PM CDT | Flood Watch | MPX | Benton, Douglas, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pope and 3 more | 15 hr |
| Jul 7, 2:53 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MPX | Redwood, Renville, Yellow Medicine | 56 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.