A few late evening thunderstorms developed across the Dakotas and moved eastward along a sharp gradient of mixed layer instability. In extreme western MN, sub-severe thunderstorms became more numerous given a diminishing environment for severe storms.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MPX wrote it up.
A few late evening thunderstorms developed across the Dakotas and moved eastward along a sharp gradient of mixed layer instability. In extreme western MN, sub-severe thunderstorms became more numerous given a diminishing environment for severe storms. However, one storm which had crossed into Yellow Medicine County briefly pulsed up enough to produce a 61mph wind gust at the Canby Airfield. This brief episode of wind did down a couple of trees in Canby as well as damage two empty grain bins just SE of Canby along Hwy 68.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jun 3, 5:51 PM CST, 3 hours 9 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 651 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Late this evening and tonight...Western Minnesota could see strong to severe storms. The main threat is damaging wind. The line will dissipate as it moves into central Minnesota. - Thursday afternoon/evening...Conditional threat of storms. This depends tonight's convection. Large hail and severe winds would be the main risks. - Friday...Storms may linger across the region, though confidence on overall coverage is low and depends on how Wednesday to Thursday plays out. - This Weekend...Dry Saturday, with small chances for rain lifting up from the south on Sunday afternoon. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 258 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026 Late this evening and tonight...scattered thunderstorms will move into western Minnesota, and could produce some damaging wind. The latest water vapor imagery a few subtle low-amplitude shortwaves embedded in weak southwest flow. Surface obs showed southerly winds across the region, with a highs climbing into the low 80s across the region. However, surface moisture was limited, with dewpoints in the 40s along I-35, but upper 50s across western Minnesota. This thin layer of moisture explained why the MUCAPE matched the SBCAPE in the SPC analysis, compared to a sharp decrease in the MLCAPE. A few storms were ongoing across the Dakotas, and these are expected to increase in coverage this evening. Latest guidance keeps the storms west of the MN/SD line until 8 or 9 pm, and by this time the instability will be on the downward trend. For that reason, confidence is high in scattered thunderstorms late this evening, with a few storms producing hail and wind as they enter Minnesota. These storms should transition to more of a line, but the weak wind profile and marginal thermodynamic environment suggests that storms will weaken as the move eastward. This should be a lower-end severe weather event not uncommon for early June. Thursday...Confidence is lower on Thursday, mainly due to the overnight convection and ability to for the atmosphere to recover. Once again, the wind profile is weak, and the mid level lapse rates are only 6 to 7 C/km. So the dynamic and thermodynamic environment is supportive for severe weather, but not overly favorable. The Marginal/Slight risk seems very appropriate. Local heavy downpours are also in play given the light winds, but any flooding concerns would be localized. Friday...Confidence continues to be low on Friday. Mainly due to the placement of the frontal boundary. As of now, areas along I-90, and east of I-35 have a higher chance of storms than areas to the northwest. One thing of note, the overall setup for "severe storms" is probably more favorable on Friday than any other day, due to slightly stronger winds (higher shear), and steeper mid level lapse rates (higher CAPE). However, the juxtaposition of those two is more likely across Iowa than our forecast area. Saturday and Sunday... Saturday looks dry. The frontal boundary should be southeast of the region, with a weak surface high in place. Sunday should be mostly dry as well, but that boundary will start to lift northward, so should have scattered showers and storms lifting up from the south. Looking ahead, this set up will continue into next week, with increasing temperatures, and chances for thunderstorms. In Summary, there are several chances for severe storms and heavy rain, but this is a lower-end threat that is very common for early June. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 640 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026 A line of thunderstorms is expected to develop across the eastern Dakotas this evening & move into western Minnesota later tonight (between 10 PM-Midnight). These storms will be weakening as the move eastwards through the night, but could still see IFR conditions & sporadic wind gusts around 30 kts for a few hours at AXN & RWF. How far east this complex of thunderstorms will make it across Minnesota before dissipating remains uncertain. The thunder potential will be waning during the overnight hours so rain showers are mostly expected STC/MKT/MSP, although a few rumbles of thunder are still possible. Precipitation chances at RNH/EAU are more unlikely. Ceilings lower overnight, & could be borderline MVFR/VFR from early tomorrow morning up until tomorrow afternoon. Winds will be southerly tonight around 10 kts with a gradual change to southwesterly through tomorrow morning. KMSP...The line of thunderstorms will be weakening, & may totally dissipate, as it reaches the metro early tomorrow morning. Main window on timing looks to be 4 AM - 7 AM, with the threat for thunder looking low by then. The precipitation forecast remains unclear through Thursday with isolated showers possible around the terminal during the late morning/early afternoon. ANother round of isolated showers & thunderstorms is possible tomorrow evening, although the odds of impacts at the terminal specifically are low. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ FRI...Chc -TSRA/IFR. Wind SW 5-10 kts becoming NW. SAT...VFR. Wind NW 5-10 kts becoming NE. SUN...VFR. Wind Wind SE 10 kts. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...None. WI...None. && DISCUSSION...BED/JRB AVIATION...ETA
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 311 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026 MNZ041>043-047>050-054>058-064-065-073-074-042015- Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Stevens-Pope-Stearns-Benton-Lac Qui Parle- Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-Meeker-Yellow Medicine-Renville-Redwood- Brown- 311 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Minnesota...south central Minnesota...southwest Minnesota and west central Minnesota. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A line or multiple clusters of thunderstorms is expected to spread east from the Dakotas this evening. A few may strong to severe with the main hazards being severe wind and large hail. The threat will diminish as the storms progress east through Minnesota. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Additional storms are expected Thursday and Friday, with conditional risks for severe hail and wind when any stronger cells develop. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN spotter activation may be needed tonight through Friday. MNZ044-045-051>053-059>063-066>070-075>078-082>085-091>093- WIZ014>016-023>028-042015- Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka- Ramsey-Washington-McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Nicollet- Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-Martin- Faribault-Freeborn-Polk-Barron-Rusk-St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin- Chippewa-Eau Claire- 311 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Minnesota...east central Minnesota...south central Minnesota... southeast Minnesota...northwest Wisconsin and west central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A few thunderstorms may move into southern and eastern Minnesota after midnight. Severe weather is not expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Additional storms are expected Thursday and Friday, with conditional risks for severe hail and wind when any stronger cells develop. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN spotter activation may be needed for Thursday and Friday.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
827 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026
MNZ054-064-040230-
Lac Qui Parle MN-Yellow Medicine MN-
827 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN LAC QUI
PARLE AND WEST CENTRAL YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTIES UNTIL 930 PM CDT...
At 827 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms extending from 16 miles southwest of Marietta to 19
miles southwest of Canby, or extending from 45 miles west of
Montevideo to 50 miles southwest of Montevideo, moving east at 15
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
The strong thunderstorm will be near...
Canby around 910 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this strong thunderstorm include Burr and
Florida Creek Wildlife Management Area.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 4498 9645 4502 9631 4474 9616 4463 9615
4463 9645
TIME...MOT...LOC 0126Z 259DEG 14KT 4484 9663 4469 9655 4452 9654
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
DunleavySpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
844 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026
MNZ047-040245-
Stevens MN-
844 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT STEVENS COUNTY UNTIL
945 PM CDT...
At 844 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms extending from 35 miles northwest of Chokio to 17 miles
west of Chokio, or extending from 42 miles northwest of Morris to 30
miles west of Morris, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Chokio, Fish Lake, Donnelly, Lake Hattie, Alberta, Morris Airport,
Morris and Hancock.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 4541 9577 4541 9624 4559 9624 4559 9625
4576 9625 4576 9576 4559 9576 4559 9575
4541 9575
TIME...MOT...LOC 0143Z 265DEG 32KT 4602 9651 4580 9646 4555 9653
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
DunleavySpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
946 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026
MNZ054-064-040345-
Lac Qui Parle MN-Yellow Medicine MN-
946 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN LAC QUI PARLE AND
WESTERN YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTIES UNTIL 1045 PM CDT...
At 946 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northwest of Canby, or 33 miles west of Montevideo, moving east
at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
The strong thunderstorm will be near...
Canby around 955 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this strong thunderstorm include Burr and
Providence.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 4500 9645 4502 9587 4501 9586 4500 9584
4500 9583 4499 9584 4499 9582 4496 9582
4496 9581 4495 9581 4495 9579 4487 9577
4463 9573 4463 9645
TIME...MOT...LOC 0245Z 265DEG 24KT 4480 9636
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
DunleavyThe Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 132 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:00 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Law enforcement reported downed tree branches blocking a road in Canby.
Two empty grain bins had their sides blown from a strong thunderstorm wind gust. The AWOS station located at the Canby Municipal Airport measured a 53kt thunderstorm wind gust.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, June 2026
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1345914, 1345907.