The area in brown has a significant risk of tornadoes later today. Please keep up on the weather in this area. 

The area i brown has a significant risk of tornadoes. There is a chance of isolated storms this afternoon but the better chance of tornadoes and damaging winds is this evening. Please keep up with the weather in this area. 

The area in brown has a significant risk of a tornado later today. Please keep up on the weather in the region. 

Thunderstorms, currently in progress, are forecast to intensify leading to the likelihood (according to SPC) of tornadoes. In addition, 70 mph winds are forecast along with medium-sized hail. 

Please keep up on the weather if you live in the brown-shaded area. 

A number of counties in Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas have been removed from the blizzard warning as the storm is moving northeast.  The color code: Orange = blizzard warning Gold = high wind warning Maroon = red flag warning (wildfire conditions) Pink = winter storm warning  Dark blue = winter storm watch Purple = winter weather advisory  Brown = high wind watch More than an estimated half million people are without power.  Below is the radar at 4:38p. Blue is the snow falling with the blizzard with the darker blues corresponding to a higher rate of falling snow. Amber is the NWS's tornado watches. 

Minnesota may have tornadoes this afternoon and evening. As of 1:35pm, there is a line of thunderstorms in the western part of the state that will strengthen as it moves east. Please keep an eye on the weather the rest of the day.  Update: 3:32pm, first tornado warning  of the afternoon issued (red polygon).   The amber outline is a severe thunderstorm watch. Please continue to monitor the weather along and ahead of the line of storms, including in the Twin Cities.  Note: This will be the last blog update on this storm. Please follow me on Twitter/X @usweatherexpert. 

9:40pm  I wholeheartedly believe there will be a couple of tornadoes or more during the night (see my original forecast, scroll down) in addition to tennis ball-sized hail and wind gusts to 75 mph.  Please make sure you have a system to awaken you during the night!! 7:55pm Severe thunderstorm watch, including Chicago, for "one or two tornadoes,"  very large hail and wind gusts to 75 mph.  First tornado warning of the day has been issued.  Follow along @usweatherexpert on Twitter.  Tornadoes along with 4" hail and wind gusts to 70 mph are forecast to occur.  The first thunderstorms of the day are forming in Minnesota, 5:48pm.  --- original posting, still valid --- Tornado Forecast I'm afraid there is a significant tornado risk in the area I have outlined.  If you live in southern Minnesota as well as adjacent areas of Wisconsin and far northern Iowa. There is a warm front that bisects my forecast area. There are also statistical models that su...

Tornado Watch: Minnesota and Wisconsin This watch is in effect until 10pm CDT. In addition to "a couple of tornadoes," hail to 4 inches in diameter and wind gusts of 75 mph are forecast to occur.  --- original posting (still valid) --- There is a risk of tornadoes in the U.S. border area. This is a heavy recreational area.  The brown area of northeast Minnesota and adjacent areas of far northwest Wisconsin have a significant risk of tornadoes beginning in mid-afternoon.  This map is hail risk. Where you see hatching, hail larger than two inches in diameter is forecast to occur. The red area has an enhanced  risk. The yellow area has a significant risk.  If you live in the area, please make sure you monitor the weather in the region. If you know of people camping or boating in the area, please try to get hold of them to insure they monitor the weather. 

It is looking like a winter storm will be developing over the northern Great Plains over the weekend.  Sunday and Sunday Night At lower left is the probability of 4" or more of snow. It is also possible there will be strong winds with this storm. So, I recommend those traveling on I-90 and, especially, I-94 begin looking at alternate routes. Note also the high probability of heavy snow over the Sierra.  Monday and Monday Night With Monday's snow, preliminarily, amounts may be high over parts of Minnesota and the eastern Dakotas. Again, consider the possibility of re-routing a road trip. If you are planning to fly through Minneapolis, you may wish to consider a re-route through Northwest's Detroit hub, if possible.  Update 4:45pm: The National Weather Service is also raising the alarm .