Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 181, NWS Twin Cities, MN

August 20, 2026Brown County, Redwood County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 20, 2026, 7:43 PM CDT for Brown County, Redwood County, Minnesota. It was in force for 39 min. 3 reports 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
Aug 20, 2026, 7:43 PM CDT (00:43 UTC)
Expired
Aug 20, 2026, 8:22 PM CDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Possible
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Brown County, MN, Redwood County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 142 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:47 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 20, 7:48 PM CDTHAIL 2Wabasso, MN
Aug 20, 7:50 PM CDTHAIL 1.751 Ese Wabasso, MN1.5 to 1.75 inch hail measured.
Aug 20, 8:25 PM CDTHAIL 1.25Wanda, MNHail extended southeast to two miles north of Sanborn.

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 2 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 5 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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 20, 6:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 140 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 2026-08-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1101 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 2026-08-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 162 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1101 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-20 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1018 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
162 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
258 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
5.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

798 
WUUS53 KMPX 210043
SVRMPX
MNC015-127-210130-
/O.NEW.KMPX.SV.W.0181.260821T0043Z-260821T0130Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
743 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Western Brown County in south central Minnesota...
  Central Redwood County in southwestern Minnesota...

* Until 830 PM CDT.

* At 743 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Wabasso, or
  11 miles southwest of Redwood Falls, moving southeast at 35 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...
  Vesta, Seaforth, Lucan, Wabasso, Wanda, Clements, Morgan, Sanborn,
  Springfield, Evan, Cobden and Sleepy Eye.

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.

Tornadoes can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. Seek shelter
immediately in an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built
structure.

&&

LAT...LON 4450 9556 4454 9542 4454 9536 4456 9536
      4458 9530 4433 9461 4411 9503 4411 9510
      4420 9510 4420 9521
TIME...MOT...LOC 0043Z 310DEG 32KT 4443 9528

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

$$

Dye
2 follow-up statements
111 
WWUS53 KMPX 210057
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
757 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026

MNC015-127-210130-
/O.CON.KMPX.SV.W.0181.000000T0000Z-260821T0130Z/
Brown MN-Redwood MN-
757 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
WESTERN BROWN AND SOUTHERN REDWOOD COUNTIES...

At 757 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles southeast of
Wabasso, or 14 miles south of Redwood Falls, moving southeast at 35
mph.

HAZARD...Golf ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Trained spotters reported.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
         damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind
         damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
  Seaforth, Lucan, Wabasso, Wanda, Clements, Morgan, Sanborn,
  Springfield, Evan, Cobden and Sleepy Eye.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Anyone outdoors should move to shelter inside a well-built structure
and stay away from windows. This storm has produced dangerous hail
and is capable of producing damaging winds.

Tornadoes can develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. Seek shelter
immediately in an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built
structure.

&&

LAT...LON 4443 9548 4455 9529 4433 9461 4411 9503
      4411 9510 4420 9510 4420 9521
TIME...MOT...LOC 0043Z 310DEG 32KT 4443 9527

TORNADO...POSSIBLE
THUNDERSTORM DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL THREAT...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Dye
903 
WWUS53 KMPX 210122
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
822 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026

MNC015-127-210132-
/O.CAN.KMPX.SV.W.0181.000000T0000Z-260821T0130Z/
Brown MN-Redwood MN-
822 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR WESTERN BROWN AND
SOUTHERN REDWOOD COUNTIES...

The Severe Thunderstorm Warning that was previously in effect has
been reissued for Brown and Redwood Counties and is in effect until
915 PM CDT. Please refer to that bulletin for the latest severe
weather information.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1200 AM CDT for
portions of south central and southwest Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4443 9548 4455 9529 4433 9461 4411 9503
      4411 9510 4420 9510 4420 9521
TIME...MOT...LOC 0057Z 310DEG 32KT 4434 9514

$$

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 Aug 20, 7:14 PM CDT, 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Scattered thunderstorms expected this evening along a passing cold front. A few severe thunderstorms could produce large hail and gusty winds.
  • Seasonable temperatures and mostly dry weather through the weekend into next week.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 20, 7:14 PM CDT, 29 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
714 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered thunderstorms expected this evening along a passing
  cold front. A few severe thunderstorms could produce large
  hail and gusty winds.

- Seasonable temperatures and mostly dry weather through the
  weekend into next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 123 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026

Tonight...Early morning showers have persisted well into the
afternoon here, limiting the atmosphere from recovering as much.
That said, the combination of some clearing out west and
increasing moisture has allowed a pool of greater instability to
form across western and north-central MN. As the front moves
southeast this evening, we expect isolated to scattered storms
to develop along it, most likely over central MN. Sufficient
wind shear (~30 to 40 kts) and moisture (PWATS ~1.2 to 1.4")
will support the development and organization of at least a few
storms. It is uncertain how many storms will become strong
enough to reach severe limits given the relatively weaker mid
level lapse rates (around 6 to 6.5 C/km). The SPC has
maintained a slight risk of severe weather across a strip of MN
and northwest WI, with a focus on large hail. It is important to
note that not everyone within the risk area will see storms, in
fact most may not see any rain, but that is the best
environment for any storms that do develop to become more
organized. The latest timing favors a later arrival for most
locations, with the initial storms developing around 5-7pm near
Alexandria and Brainerd, then moving southeast towards the Twin
Cities metro and western WI around 9pm-midnight. Storms
west/south of I-94 are more uncertain for storm development,
especially across Minnesota.

This Weekend and Early Next Week...The forecast becomes "boring"
again heading into the weekend as drier air moves in and
northwest flow continues aloft. Temperatures remain very
seasonable, and cloud cover should be pretty limited to your
typical diurnal cumulus clouds each day.

Things shake up a little bit as we head into next week and
heights start to rise aloft. Surface winds shift out of the
south and warmer temperatures and greater moisture gradually
returns. Long range guidance is showing broad agreement of rain
chances at some point Monday-Wednesday, likely in the form of
another frontal passage. That's a ways out, so we'll focus on
the nice weather this weekend instead!

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 653 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026

Isolated storms have developed near a cold front in western MN,
with this activity expected to slide southeast over the next
couple of hours. Greater TS coverage is occurring in northern
MN where better forcing exists with shortwave energy dropping
through northern MN. The storm west of RWF will track
along/southeast of the MN River, likely skimming past RWF and
MKT to the south. Storms in northern MN will drop southeast
toward western WI, leading to increased TS threat for RNH/EAU
closer to 6z. MSP/STC look to be between these two areas of
enhanced storms. As these storms diminish overnight, stratus/fog
is expected to develop closer to DLH near what will be a
weakening surface low. Main question with this is how far south
does the stratus extend. RAP soundings would support stratus
getting as far south as MSP, though when looking at the range of
hi-res models, it's really western WI (RNH/EAU) that stands out
for having an IFR/MVFR stratus threat. Once any stratus mixes
out Friday morning, the rest of the Friday will be uneventful.

KMSP...Kept the prob30 for TS in the 2z to 5z window, though
current trends would suggest MSP will miss out on yet another
rainfall opportunity with this front, with storms going north
and south of the metro. For stratus tonight, current
expectations is it will remain north of the metro, closer to the
remnants of the surface low.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
SAT...VFR. Wind NW 5-15 kts.
SUN...VFR. Wind N 5-10 kts.
MON...VFR, chc -SHRA late night. Wind S 5-15 kts.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...BED
AVIATION...MPG
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 20, 1:28 PM CDT, 6 hours 15 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
128 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
211830-
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-
128 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected this evening. The strongest
storms could contain large hail & damaging winds.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.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
Aug 20, 7:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXPope, Stearns50 min
Aug 20, 7:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMeeker, Stearns49 min
Aug 20, 8:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBrown, Redwood54 min
Aug 20, 8:39 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXMeeker36 min
Aug 20, 9:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMorrison48 min
Aug 20, 9:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMcLeod, Meeker, Wright17 min
Aug 20, 10:48 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXMille Lacs42 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.