Hail in Wisconsin, April 17, 2026

Name: Hail in Wisconsin, April 17, 2026
Start: 2026-04-17T13:14
End: 2026-04-17T13:52
Location: Wisconsin

April 17, 2026 · NWS MPX · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MPX wrote it up.

A surface cold front moved across Minnesota and proceeded into western Wisconsin on April 17th which ultimately produced two rounds of thunderstorms. The first line of storms was associated with a warm front which produced quarter size hail across south-central Minnesota mid-morning. The secondary and stronger line of storms tied to the cold front itself moved through in the early afternoon across eastern MN and western WI. This line produced a swath of large hail measuring from quarter size up to half dollar size hail 4 miles NNW of Bay City (Pierce County) which ended up being the largest measured hailstone from this event.

What forecasters said that day

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 Apr 17, 1:02 PM CST, 12 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

The passage of a strong cold front today will bring scattered thunderstorms. As of 1pm, the severe weather risk is mainly across western Wisconsin.
Large hail and damaging winds are the primary hazards across western Wisconsin, and the risk for tornadoes increases as you head east.
Much colder air is expected for the weekend with possibly a few snow showers but with no snow accumulation.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 17, 1:02 PM CST, 12 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
202 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- The passage of a strong cold front today will bring scattered
  thunderstorms. As of 1pm, the severe weather risk is mainly
  across western Wisconsin.

- Large hail and damaging winds are the primary hazards across
  western Wisconsin, and the risk for tornadoes increases as you
  head east.

- Much colder air is expected for the weekend with possibly a
  few snow showers but with no snow accumulation.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1257 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Today:
Early afternoon satellite and radar imagery
showed storms across central and western Minnesota. These storms
were behind a strong cold front that as of 1pm were generally
along the I-35 corridor. At Jackson Minnesota, the temperature
dropped 22 degrees in 41 minutes earlier today!

Meanwhile, a few storms were developing ahead of the cold
front, and these are the ones that could produce large hail,
damaging wind, and tornadoes later this afternoon. For this
afternoon, severe thunderstorm watches and tornado watches have
been issued for a few counties in far eastern MN, and much of
Wisconsin.

There is strong forcing for severe weather, meaning the CAP will
not hold. However, we expect storms to quickly develop which
could lead to destructive interference. But the overall
environment does support strong to severe storms through
roughly 3 to 5 pm in our area, and then we expect the convection
to be east of Rusk, Chippewa, and Eau Claire counties. As for
the rain threat, these storms will be moving quickly, so most
locations will have less than an inch.

Tonight through Thursday:

Once the storms exit the region, northwest winds will continue
to bring in cold air overnight, with lows falling below freezing
across the region. The cold air will continue though Saturday,
with highs only in the mid 40s, and breezy northwest winds
continuing, keeping wind chills near freezing throughout the
day.

On Sunday, high pressure will build in and temperatures will be
a bit warmer, with highs in the upper 40s. The real warmth
returns on Monday, with highs back in the 60s. This is in
response to upper level ridging building across the central
CONUS, and warm air advection overspreading across the region.

This ridge will also keep the region dry through Wednesday. On
Thursday troughing from the west will bring increased moisture
across the region, and high chances (50 to 70) for showers and
thunderstorms.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1257 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Main concern in the short term is showers and thunderstorms this
afternoon, but they should diminish from west to east during the
late afternoon and into the evening as a cold front continue to
move through the region. This will bring northwest winds and
MVFR ceilings. Ceilings will start raise, and expect mostly VFR
conditions on Saturday.

KMSP...
Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon with
northwest winds and MVFR ceilings. Then ceilings will lift and
expect VFR conditions after that.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
SUN...VFR. Wind NW 5-10kts.
MON...VFR. Wind SE 10kts becoming S 10G20kts.
TUE...VFR. Wind SW 5-10kts becoming NW.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...JRB
AVIATION...JRB

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 17, 3:13 AM CST, 10 hours 1 minute before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
413 AM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
180900-
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-
413 AM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

A strong cold front will push across the area today. A line of
strong to severe thunderstorms will develop along it across
eastern Minnesota late this morning into early this afternoon,
then track quickly across western Wisconsin. Large hail, damaging
winds, and a tornado or two are possible, especially in Wisconsin.

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

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation may be needed this afternoon, mainly in
eastern Minnesota into western WI.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 17, 9:39 AM CST, 3 hours 35 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1039 AM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

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

1012 AM     Hail             2 SSW Cannon Falls      44.48N 92.92W
04/17/2026  M1.00 Inch       Goodhue            MN   Trained Spotter

            Hail measurement photo provided via NWSChat.
            Time estimated via radar.

&&

RMD

Special weather statement, Apr 17, 9:57 AM CST, 3 hours 17 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1057 AM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

WIZ023-024-171645-
Pierce WI-St. Croix WI-
1057 AM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL ST. CROIX AND NORTH
CENTRAL PIERCE COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 AM CDT...

At 1057 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
River Falls, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel 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...
  River Falls, Hammond, Baldwin, Roberts, Woodville, Glenwood City,
  Emerald, Cylon, Deer Park, Martel, Hersey and Beldenville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

&&

LAT...LON 4485 9272 4520 9238 4506 9214 4501 9214
      4474 9252
TIME...MOT...LOC 1557Z 218DEG 27KT 4483 9257

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

MPG

Local storm report, Apr 17, 10:22 AM CST, 2 hours 52 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1122 AM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

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

1000 AM     Hail             Hastings                44.74N 92.85W
04/17/2026  M0.88 Inch       Dakota             MN   Public

            Measurement provided via Facebook. Time
            estimated via radar.

&&

RMD

Special weather statement, Apr 17, 12:53 PM CST, 21 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
153 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

MNZ060-062-069-171930-
Ramsey MN-Scott MN-Hennepin MN-
153 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT HENNEPIN...SOUTHWESTERN RAMSEY
AND NORTHEASTERN SCOTT COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM CDT...

At 153 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Eden Prairie, or 13 miles southwest of Minneapolis, moving northeast
at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Eden Prairie,
  Minnetonka, Edina, St. Louis Park, Shakopee, Richfield, Roseville,
  Brooklyn Center, Savage, Prior Lake and New Brighton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

&&

LAT...LON 4488 9352 4511 9333 4509 9328 4504 9328
      4504 9323 4506 9323 4499 9306 4481 9326
      4479 9333 4475 9333 4472 9336 4480 9354
      4480 9352
TIME...MOT...LOC 1852Z 214DEG 45KT 4482 9342

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

Dunleavy

Local storm report, Apr 17, 1:13 PM CST, 1 minute before

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Local storm report, Apr 17, 1:14 PM CST, 0 minutes before

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The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 90 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:15 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Pierce

When: April 17, 1:14 PM CST to 1:18 PM CST
Where: Pierce County, 1.47 mi E of Ellsworth
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.730, -92.440

Hail, Pierce

When: April 17, 1:46 PM CST to 1:48 PM CST
Where: Pierce County, 2.4 mi NW of Esdaile
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.640, -92.470

Emailed photos of large hail in backyard.

Hail, Polk

When: April 17, 1:48 PM CST to 1:52 PM CST
Where: Polk County, 1.46 mi E of St Croix Falls
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.400, -92.620

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Wisconsin in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in Wisconsin, April 2026

Sources

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: 1330509, 1330510, 1330511.