Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 21, NWS Twin Cities, MN

April 13, 2026Blue Earth County, Watonwan County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 13, 2026, 6:41 PM CDT for Blue Earth County, Watonwan County, Minnesota. It was in force for 58 min. 5 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: Apr 13, 2026, 6:41 PM CDT (23:41 UTC)
Expired: Apr 13, 2026, 7:39 PM CDT
In force: 58 min
Issued by: NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.5 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Blue Earth County, MN, Watonwan County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:41 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
Apr 13, 7:10 PM CDT	HAIL 2	2 Sw Judson, MN
Apr 13, 7:15 PM CDT	HAIL 2.75	4 Wnw Lake Crystal, MN
Apr 13, 7:15 PM CDT	HAIL 3	Lake Crystal, MN
Apr 13, 7:16 PM CDT	HAIL 3.5	Lake Crystal, MN
Apr 13, 7:17 PM CDT	HAIL 1.75	1 W Lake Crystal, MN	Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.).

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 13, 3:11 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 92 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: 8 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -259 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1506 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 124 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 229 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

383 
WUUS53 KMPX 132341
SVRMPX
MNC013-165-140045-
/O.NEW.KMPX.SV.W.0021.260413T2341Z-260414T0045Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
641 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northwestern Blue Earth County in south central Minnesota...
  Northeastern Watonwan County in south central Minnesota...

* Until 745 PM CDT.

* At 641 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Hanska, or 13
  miles south of New Ulm, moving east at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...Ping pong 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...
  Lake Crystal, Judson, Garden City and Minneopa State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT Monday for a
portion of south central Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4409 9452 4411 9452 4411 9437 4425 9437
      4424 9429 4423 9428 4423 9427 4422 9425
      4421 9425 4421 9422 4422 9422 4420 9421
      4419 9414 4417 9411 4418 9410 4417 9410
      4416 9409 4416 9406 4395 9409
TIME...MOT...LOC 2341Z 277DEG 19KT 4411 9445

HAIL THREAT...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

JRB

3 follow-up statements

770 
WWUS53 KMPX 140004
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
704 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

MNC165-140014-
/O.CAN.KMPX.SV.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260414T0045Z/
Watonwan MN-
704 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHEASTERN WATONWAN
COUNTY...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT Monday for a
portion of south central Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4424 9430 4424 9429 4423 9428 4423 9427
      4422 9425 4421 9425 4421 9422 4420 9421
      4419 9414 4417 9411 4418 9410 4417 9410
      4416 9409 4416 9406 4395 9409 4408 9437
      4425 9437
TIME...MOT...LOC 2341Z 277DEG 19KT 4411 9444

$$


MNC013-140045-
/O.CON.KMPX.SV.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260414T0045Z/
Blue Earth MN-
704 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN BLUE EARTH COUNTY...

At 704 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Lake Crystal,
or 15 miles west of Mankato, moving east at 25 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...
  Lake Crystal, Judson, Garden City and Minneopa State Park.

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.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT Monday for a
portion of south central Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4424 9430 4424 9429 4423 9428 4423 9427
      4422 9425 4421 9425 4421 9422 4420 9421
      4419 9414 4417 9411 4418 9410 4417 9410
      4416 9409 4416 9406 4395 9409 4408 9437
      4425 9437
TIME...MOT...LOC 2341Z 277DEG 19KT 4411 9444

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

$$

JRB

341 
WWUS53 KMPX 140018
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
718 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

MNC013-140045-
/O.CON.KMPX.SV.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260414T0045Z/
Blue Earth MN-
718 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN BLUE EARTH COUNTY...

At 718 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Lake Crystal,
or 11 miles southwest of Mankato, moving east at 25 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...
  Lake Crystal, Judson, Garden City and Minneopa State Park.

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.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT Monday for a
portion of south central Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4405 9428 4421 9422 4420 9421 4419 9414
      4417 9411 4418 9410 4417 9410 4416 9409
      4416 9406 4395 9409
TIME...MOT...LOC 0004Z 277DEG 19KT 4410 9428

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

$$

JRB

478 
WWUS53 KMPX 140039
SVSMPX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
739 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

MNC013-140049-
/O.CAN.KMPX.SV.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260414T0045Z/
Blue Earth MN-
739 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHWESTERN BLUE
EARTH COUNTY...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT Monday for a
portion of south central Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4405 9428 4421 9422 4420 9421 4419 9414
      4417 9411 4418 9410 4417 9410 4416 9409
      4416 9406 4395 9409
TIME...MOT...LOC 0018Z 277DEG 19KT 4409 9417

$$

JRB

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 13, 3:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Dakota, Goodhue, Rice	41 min
Apr 13, 3:47 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	MPX	Goodhue	43 min
Apr 13, 3:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threat	MPX	Rice	35 min
Apr 13, 3:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MPX	Rice	35 min
Apr 13, 4:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MPX	Goodhue	58 min
Apr 13, 4:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	MPX	Goodhue	61 min
Apr 13, 5:01 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MPX	Goodhue	5 hr
Apr 13, 5:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Goodhue	53 min
Apr 13, 5:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Martin, Watonwan	48 min
Apr 13, 5:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Le Sueur, Nicollet	50 min
Apr 13, 5:58 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MPX	Blue Earth, Martin, Watonwan	47 min
Apr 13, 5:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice	61 min
Apr 13, 6:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Blue Earth, Brown, Nicollet	56 min
Apr 13, 6:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	MPX	Le Sueur, Rice	65 min
Apr 13, 6:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	MPX	Blue Earth, Faribault, Martin	47 min
Apr 13, 6:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Faribault, Martin	65 min
Apr 13, 6:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Watonwan	67 min
Apr 13, 6:48 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MPX	Rice, Steele, Waseca	42 min
Apr 13, 6:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MPX	Goodhue	53 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.