Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 28, NWS Twin Cities, MN

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

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 13, 2026, 7:42 PM CDT for Blue Earth County, Waseca County, Minnesota. It was in force for 29 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
Apr 13, 2026, 7:42 PM CDT (00:42 UTC)
Expired
Apr 13, 2026, 8:11 PM CDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.25 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Blue Earth County, MN, Waseca County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 88 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:44 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
Apr 13, 3:11 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 88 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 2026-04-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 141 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2026-04-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 142 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
141 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-175 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1158 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
142 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
183 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
4.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

774 
WUUS53 KMPX 140042
SVRMPX
MNC013-161-140145-
/O.NEW.KMPX.SV.W.0028.260414T0042Z-260414T0145Z/

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

The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northeastern Blue Earth County in south central Minnesota...
  Northern Waseca County in south central Minnesota...

* Until 845 PM CDT.

* At 742 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near St. Clair, or
  6 miles southeast of Mankato, moving east at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
           roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Mankato, Eagle Lake, St. Clair, Smiths Mill, Pemberton, Janesville,
  Alma City, Waseca Airport and Waseca.

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4403 9403 4418 9399 4416 9341 4395 9341
TIME...MOT...LOC 0042Z 280DEG 22KT 4408 9393

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

JRB
1 follow-up statement
503 
WWUS53 KMPX 140111
SVSMPX

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

MNC013-161-140121-
/O.CAN.KMPX.SV.W.0028.000000T0000Z-260414T0145Z/
Blue Earth MN-Waseca MN-
811 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHEASTERN BLUE
EARTH AND NORTHERN WASECA COUNTIES...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
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 4403 9403 4418 9399 4416 9341 4395 9341
TIME...MOT...LOC 0042Z 280DEG 22KT 4408 9392

$$

JRB

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 Apr 13, 6:55 PM CDT, 47 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Strong to severe storms expected along a warm front this afternoon through the evening. Hail is the most likely threat, with secondary threat of tornadoes in southern/southeast Minnesota.
  • Areas of dense fog in the morning, followed by clearing skies tomorrow with continued warm temperatures.
  • Multiple chances for rain showers and weak storms throughout the rest of the week.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 13, 6:55 PM CDT, 47 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
655 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Strong to severe storms expected along a warm front this afternoon
through the evening. Hail is the most likely threat, with secondary
threat of tornadoes in southern/southeast Minnesota.

- Areas of dense fog in the morning, followed by clearing skies
tomorrow with continued warm temperatures.

- Multiple chances for rain showers and weak storms throughout
  the rest of the week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 124 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

Eyes are glued to satellite this afternoon as we await convective
initiation within a few hours, with the warm frontal boundary
evident over far southeastern South Dakota through the I-90 corridor
as a secondary boundary has set up farther north associated with the
light showers stretching from central South Dakotas through St.
Cloud. The southern boundary is the warm front associated with an
incoming low pressure system that is expected to be the locus of
severe weather activity later, with the northward extent of the
front one of the key things to watch as this will dictate how far
north the severe weather threat persists. Forecast soundings from
various CAMs showcase extensive low level instability with upwards
of 2500+ J/KG SBCAPE with limited CIN along the warm front but
extensive 100-200 CIN north of it with a lack of low level
winds/shear but extensive 0-6km shear. What this means is elevated
storms capable of producing hail will exist north of the primary
warm frontal boundary, with the warm front the most likely zone for
potential tornadoes as storm interactions and streamwise vorticity
will both be maximized within this zone despite the lackluster low
level shear. The 17z WoFS run has largely favored a southerly
solution for weather potential, keeping the best potential for both
tornadoes and hail confined to the region south of the Twin Cities
metro and favoring an area from roughly Olmsted County in SE MN to
Jackson County in western WI (both covered by NWS La Crosse). The
tornado threat is highly contingent on the dew point depression at
surface level, as the lack of 0-1km shear means we need incredibly
low LCLs below 500ft for the threat to be tangible, which means we
need to be highly saturated below 1000ft otherwise the tornado
threat may not end up being realized. The hail threat is the most
likely overall given the extensive mid level shear and steep lapse
rates, and even with lower level capping elevated storms would be
capable of producing severe hail. The wind threat is largely relying
on precipitation loading/momentum enhancement with limited lower
level flow until the low level jet amplifies, however for our area
this is not realized until later in the evening when the warm front
is already exiting the area to the southeast. Overall, there is
still some higher end hail potential and a tornado threat and we
will have to closely monitor the position of the warm front as well
as overall storm environment over the next few hours. The timing
window looks to be CI from 3-4pm, most intense from 4-9pm across the
area, diminishing quickly as the front moves southeast after 9pm. As
we keep a close eye on the environment over the next few hours, a
Watch seems more likely than not at this point, it is more a
question of if we have the confidence for a Tornado Watch versus a
Severe Thunderstorm Watch given we expect the Tornado threat to be
conditional versus the more likely hail threat.

A few more elevated storms are possible for a few hours after 8-9pm
from cold FROPA with limited potential for severe weather, with
light showers and rumbles of thunder more likely as the environment
quickly shifts towards some patchy dense fog early tomorrow morning
with visibility reductions below 2 miles likely as temperatures drop
back to dew points. This fog persists through the morning commute
before diminishing rapidly after 9-10am, with another day near 70
tomorrow amidst skies clearing out to become mostly sunny by the
afternoon. Another low pressure system developing underneath an
incoming shortwave trough by late Tuesday introduces our next chance
for showers, with the position of the system favoring areas to our
south for severe weather with limited thunderstorm activity north of
the MN/IA border. The low is expected to track from Omaha to
Milwaukee keeping us on the relatively cooler northern side with
showers persisting on and off throughout Wednesday before exiting
early Thursday to the east. There is a non-zero chance for some
isolated severe weather, however the better environment should
remain to our south. Another surface low quickly develops ahead of a
broad trough off the lee side of the Rockies by late Thursday
tracking across the area on Friday bringing further chances for
showers and thunderstorms, with the low becoming broader and
weakening as it approaches. The current favored track would take the
surface low towards northern Lake Superior by early Saturday, which
would wrap in enough cold air from central Canada to introduce snow
or wintry mix chances Friday night into Saturday morning.
Accumulations are uncertain at this point as it will depend heavily
on the track of the system, which is not nailed down just yet as we
have a couple of systems before it arrives to get through. We end
the period into the 2nd half of the weekend with broad high pressure
bringing sunshine and temperatures in the 50s for Sunday.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 650 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

Primary focus early in the 00z period is with thunderstorms near
MKT and EAU. A warm front is positioned to the northwest of
these terminals, which has effectively ended the threat of
thunderstorms at the other terminals, so PROB30s & TEMPOs were
removed. Thunderstorms will move out out of southern MN early
this evening. Focus will shift to a round of IFR fog possible at
all area terminals overnight. LAMP guidance remains most
aggressive with visibility reductions across eastern MN/western
WI. Winds turn northwesterly after daybreak and will sustain
between 5-10kts.

KMSP...Main convective show has setup across southern MN.
VFR rain showers will remain possible this evening, but feel
that the threat for strong thunderstorms has decreased. Guidance
continues to point towards a window of IFR fog overnight. VFR
with northwesterly flow tomorrow.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
WED...MVFR/SHRA early, then VFR. Wind NE 5kts.
THU...VFR, chc MVFR/-SHRA. Wind SE 5-10kts.
FRI...MVFR/SHRA likely, chance -TSRA. Wind SE to SW 10-15G25kts.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...TDH
AVIATION...Strus
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 13, 1:08 PM CDT, 6 hours 34 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
108 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
140900-
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-
108 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 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 can be expected this afternoon and
evening. Some storms may be strong to severe, capable of
producing very large hail in excess of 2 inches in diameter, wind
gusts in excess of 70 mph or a few tornadoes across southern
Minnesota through western Wisconsin. Some storms may also produce
heavy rain.

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

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation will likely be needed this afternoon
and evening.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 13, 7:06 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
706 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

0702 PM     Hail             4 N Madelia             44.11N 94.42W
04/13/2026  M2.75 Inch       Brown              MN   Trained Spotter

&&

mpg
Local storm report, Apr 13, 7:28 PM CDT, 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
728 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

0717 PM     Hail             1 W Lake Crystal        44.10N 94.23W
04/13/2026  M1.75 Inch       Blue Earth         MN   Public

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

&&

mpg
Local storm report, Apr 13, 7:38 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
738 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

0715 PM     Hail             4 WNW Lake Crystal      44.13N 94.29W
04/13/2026  M2.75 Inch       Blue Earth         MN   911 Call Center

&&

mpg
Local storm report, Apr 13, 7:39 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
739 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

0739 PM     Hail             3 SSW Skyline           44.09N 94.05W
04/13/2026  M1.50 Inch       Blue Earth         MN   Trained Spotter

&&

mpg
Local storm report, Apr 13, 7:40 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
740 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

0715 PM     Hail             Lake Crystal            44.10N 94.23W
04/13/2026  M3.00 Inch       Blue Earth         MN   Trained Spotter

&&

mpg
Local storm report, Apr 13, 7:42 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
742 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

0740 PM     Hail             1 N Owatonna            44.10N 93.22W
04/13/2026  M1.00 Inch       Steele             MN   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

&&

mpg

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 13, 7:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatMPXBlue Earth, Faribault, Waseca53 min
Apr 13, 7:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBlue Earth, Martin35 min
Apr 13, 7:11 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXFaribault49 min
Apr 13, 7:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatMPXSteele53 min
Apr 13, 7:31 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXBlue Earth, Faribault, Freeborn, Waseca44 min
Apr 13, 7:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBlue Earth, Faribault, Martin, Watonwan23 min
Apr 13, 7:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXFaribault, Freeborn60 min
Apr 13, 8:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatMPXFreeborn51 min
Apr 13, 8:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatMPXMartin17 min
Apr 14, 4:42 AM CDTDense Fog AdvisoryMPXAnoka, Blue Earth, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Faribault and 16 more4 hr

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.