Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 197, NWS Twin Cities, MN

September 11, 2026Kandiyohi County, Pope County, Swift County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 11, 2026, 9:09 PM CDT for Kandiyohi County, Pope County, Swift County, Minnesota. It was in force for 18 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
Sep 11, 2026, 9:09 PM CDT (02:09 UTC)
Expired
Sep 11, 2026, 9:27 PM CDT
In force
18 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Kandiyohi County, MN, Pope County, MN, Swift County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 158 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:08 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
Sep 11, 6:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC3 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 2.2 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2026-09-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 235 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 2026-09-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 143 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
235 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-300 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1734 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
143 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
392 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

551 
WUUS53 KMPX 120209
SVRMPX
MNC067-121-151-120245-
/O.NEW.KMPX.SV.W.0197.260912T0209Z-260912T0245Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
909 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northwestern Kandiyohi County in central Minnesota...
  Southeastern Pope County in west central Minnesota...
  Northeastern Swift County in west central Minnesota...

* Until 945 PM CDT.

* At 909 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Lake Hassel,
  or 23 miles southeast of Morris, moving east at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and small hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Lake Hassel, Swift Falls, Gilchrist, Monson Lake State Park and
  Sunburg.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4533 9564 4542 9563 4554 9513 4529 9513
TIME...MOT...LOC 0209Z 258DEG 29KT 4537 9556

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

$$

ETA
1 follow-up statement
917 
WWUS53 KMPX 120227
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
927 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

MNC067-121-151-120237-
/O.CAN.KMPX.SV.W.0197.000000T0000Z-260912T0245Z/
Kandiyohi MN-Pope MN-Swift MN-
927 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHWESTERN
KANDIYOHI, SOUTHEASTERN POPE AND NORTHEASTERN SWIFT COUNTIES...

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 4533 9564 4542 9563 4554 9513 4529 9513
TIME...MOT...LOC 0209Z 258DEG 29KT 4537 9555

$$

ETA

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 Sep 11, 6:29 PM CDT, 2 hours 40 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • A few thunderstorms will develop late this afternoon and tonight, primarily north of I-94. A few storms could produce large hail, damaging winds, and potentially a tornado.
  • Widespread rain arrives Monday, but forecast rain amounts have trended lower.
  • Turning much cooler this weekend and next week with highs in the 60s to low 70s.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 11, 6:29 PM CDT, 2 hours 40 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
629 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A few thunderstorms will develop late this afternoon and tonight,
primarily north of I-94. A few storms could produce large hail,
damaging winds, and potentially a tornado.

- Widespread rain arrives Monday, but forecast rain amounts have
trended lower.

- Turning much cooler this weekend and next week with highs in
  the 60s to low 70s.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 126 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

Despite being a tad on the breezy side, its turning out to be a
nice albeit warm September afternoon. Current temps range in
the 80s and are forecast to reach the upper 80s across western
MN this afternoon where warm advection is currently strongest.
Wind gusts continue to peak between 30-40 mph along the Buffalo
Ridge whereas most other sites report gusts between 20-30 mph
this afternoon. Winds are expected to decrease late tonight into
early tomorrow once a cold front tracks through the northern
plains later this evening. Latest water vapor imagery shows a
deepening ridge extending north and east of the Great Lakes
region while an elongated troughing pattern stretches from the
northern plains over the PacNorthwest. Embedded within this
troughing pattern is a low-level wave which will serve as our
next feature of interest over the next 12-24 hours. Skies this
afternoon our ahead of the wave will gradually increase from
west for the remainder of the evening.

Current mesoanalysis features an h85 low located over central
South Dakota. Ahead of this low, a strong 40-50kt LLJ is
transporting warmer and moist air up into the northern plains.
Additionally, a SW to NW oriented swath of mixed layer
instability of ~1000 J/kg exists which has allowed for continued
isolated convective pulses on radar. Luckily, enough inhibition
is in place to keep any precip development isolated and brief.
However, that will not be the case as head into later this
afternoon and evening. The aforementioned h85 low will continue
to track east into MN through the rest of today. As this occurs,
low-level forcing becomes maximized while CINH erodes, and
lapse rates deepen to 7.0 to 7.5 deg C/km. This environment will
allow for better organized convection to initiate over west-
central and northern MN. Since early this morning, the SPC has
reduced the Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) spatially to be confined
more to central and northern Minnesota this evening. Forecast
guidance continues to advertise much of the strongest convection
mainly north of a line that extends from Morris to St. Cloud.
Early in the event, forecast hodographs advertise sufficient
effective- layer shear combined with low LCLs nearing 1km. Thus
any supercells that manage to get their act together could be
conducive enough to support a tornado or two and large hail. As
the line continues east into central and eastern MN this
evening, the line transitions into more a of damaging wind gust
threat. By tonight, the wave driving these storms reaches
western WI. Although forcing will not be as strong as previous
hours, rain showers and sub-severe storms are expected to
develop along the axis of residual instability. Total QPF will
vary depending on where the strongest rainfall occurs this
evening but areas north and west of a line from Mora down to
Appleton could see a couple hundredths to a quarter of an inch
of rain with higher localized amounts. Areas across western
Wisconsin could see a hundredth or tenth of an inch.

Most of the weekend appears fairly tranquil. Winds will remain a
tad breezy out of the NW on Saturday morning near 20kts but
will decrease as surface high pressure becomes the dominant
feature through the daylight hours. Skies during this time
should remain mostly clear. By Saturday night, a narrow band of
forcing will move across southern MN that is part of upper-level
troughing over Hudson Bay area. Scattered rain showers could
develop mostly across southern Minnesota during this time but
the majority of Sunday features partly cloudy to mostly clear
skies by the afternoon. Its isn't until Monday that we see the
arrival of our next widespread rainfall chances. A stacked 998mb
low will sweep across the International Border. Widespread
rainfall will move from west to east throughout much of the day.
Most precip looks in the form of rain and some embedded thunder
however, areas along and south of the I-90 corridor could see a
stronger storm or two Monday evening. QPF for this episode
continue to trend downward. The NBM and EPS have favored
widespread 1-2" rain totals but the more realistic solutions
appear with the GEFS. Thus have shifted the 1-2" swath farther
south and east in southern MN into western WI. Areas north of
this region would more so observe a half inch to closer to an
inch.

If you're a lover of "sweater weather" or enjoy a cup of hot apple
cider then the temperature forecast will make you happy. Saturday
begins our downward temp trend. Forecast highs will only warm into
the low to mid-70s and then even cooler on Sunday in the upper 60s,
with lows in the mid to upper 40s. But wait there's more! This
cooler airmass should hang around through much of next week
with highs mainly in the upper 60s and lows near 50.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 623 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

Satellite continues to favor development of -TSRA over western
MN that will move eastwards over the first 6-8 hours of the
period, with the best chances at AXN/STC with lower chances
elsewhere. -TSRA in eastern South Dakota will need to hold
together to reach RWF/MKT/MSP/RNH/EAU, which to this point has
not been handled well in the CAMs to have enough confidence to
include. Gusty 160-190 winds will slowly diminish through the
period, dwindling below 20kts towards the end of the period
after shifting towards 280-320 behind the cold front. CIGS will
generally only occur within -TSRA, also containing the best
chance for IFR/MVFR.

KMSP...Omitted any mention of -TSRA for now, with the line of
storms in eastern South Dakota the thing to watch. This has not
been resolved well within CAMs and may need a short term AMD
should it make it this far east. Our thinking right now is that
we should be free of any -SHRA/-TSRA at MSP, with these storms
dying off before reaching us.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
SUN...VFR, chc -SHRA early. Wind NW 5kts.
MON...-SHRA/MVFR likely, chc IFR. Wind SE 10-15G30kts.
TUE...VFR. Wind NW 5-10kts.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...Dunleavy
AVIATION...TDH
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 11, 1:40 PM CDT, 7 hours 29 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
140 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014-015-023-024-
121845-
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-St. Croix-
Pierce-
140 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

There is a chance of thunderstorms this evening across western
and portions of central Minnesota, with a level 2 out of 5 risk
for severe weather. The main hazards are large hail and damaging
winds, although a tornado or two cannot be ruled out.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation will likely be needed this evening
across western and portions of central Minnesota.

WIZ016-025>028-121845-
Rusk-Dunn-Pepin-Chippewa-Eau Claire-
140 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest
Wisconsin and west central Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation will not be needed.

Dunleavy

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 11, 7:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
745 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

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

0730 PM     Hail             Chokio                  45.57N 96.18W
09/11/2026  M1.00 Inch       Stevens            MN   Public

0730 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Chokio                  45.57N 96.17W
09/11/2026                   Stevens            MN   Public

            Power outage in Chokio due to tree branches
            on power lines.

&&
Local storm report, Sep 11, 7:52 PM CDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
752 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

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

0751 PM     Tornado          7 NE Artichoke          45.47N 96.08W
09/11/2026                   Stevens            MN   Trained Spotter

            Tornado touchdown reported 7 miles northeast
            of Artichoke. Location estimated.

&&
Local storm report, Sep 11, 7:55 PM CDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
755 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

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

0754 PM     Hail             7 S Alberta             45.47N 96.07W
09/11/2026  M1.75 Inch       Stevens            MN   Trained Spotter

            Golf ball sized hail 8 miles northeast of
            Artichoke MN reported by Trained Spotter.

&&
Local storm report, Sep 11, 8:09 PM CDT, 1 hour before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
809 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

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

0738 PM     Hail             6 S Alberta             45.49N 96.06W
09/11/2026  M1.25 Inch       Stevens            MN   Public

            Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).

0740 PM     Hail             7 NE Artichoke          45.47N 96.06W
09/11/2026  M1.00 Inch       Stevens            MN   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

0753 PM     Hail             5 E Artichoke           45.43N 96.06W
09/11/2026  M1.75 Inch       Stevens            MN   Public

            Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.).

&&
Local storm report, Sep 11, 8:20 PM CDT, 49 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
820 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

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

0750 PM     Tornado          8 S Alberta             45.46N 96.06W
09/11/2026                   Stevens            MN   Trained Spotter

            8 power poles blocking county highway 9 near
            Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.

&&
Local storm report, Sep 11, 8:36 PM CDT, 33 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
836 PM CDT Fri Sep 11 2026

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

0828 PM     Hail             7 S Alberta             45.47N 96.08W
09/11/2026  M1.50 Inch       Stevens            MN   Trained Spotter

0830 PM     Hail             7 S Alberta             45.47N 96.06W
09/11/2026  M1.75 Inch       Stevens            MN   Public

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 11, 7:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXStevens38 min
Sep 11, 7:46 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedMPXStevens23 min
Sep 11, 8:04 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedMPXStevens18 min
Sep 11, 8:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXStevens, Swift16 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.