Destructive Hail, Wind Still Expected Across Northland – Updated Storm Timing

The Duluth National Weather Service continues to monitor a potentially dangerous weather situation across Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin for Wednesday afternoon, with the expected threat remaining to be large hail and damaging winds.

Severe thunderstorms are expected to develop and move through Northern Minnesota and into Northern Wisconsin through the afternoon and evening hours of Wednesday, with up to baseball-sized hail, damaging wind up to 70 mph, isolated tornadoes all within the realm of possibility.

Duluth and the Twin Ports area overall continue to be at the heart of the greatest risk of these threats, with the NWS's updated data showing the highest likelihood of them in the Twin Ports area when compared to elsewhere around the region.

In an update from the National Weather Service today, they shared when the greatest risk for these threats is likely in various areas across the region. Here's a look at their timing information, in order of when the peak risk is expected in each area. Here are the highlights:

International Falls Area

While the risks are not quite as high as they are in places like the Twin Ports area, the risk of large hail and damaging winds from storms in the area reach their peak between 4 pm and 8 pm, with a slight chance of a tornado also possible before the threat quickly diminishes by 9 pm.

READ MORE: Northland is at the heart of the strongest storm threat across the United States today

Brainerd Area

While the window of potential storms ramps up by 3 pm, the peak time is expected to be from 5 pm to 8 pm, with 2+ inch hail and strong winds being the key threats during this time, starting to calm down after that. The risk of a tornado also picks up during that 5 pm to 8 pm timeframe.

Duluth Area

The window of potential severe weather for the Twin Ports area continues to be from 3 pm to 11 pm, with the heart of that threat being between 5 pm and 9 pm. During this peak time, the National Weather Service says there is a 30% chance of large hail and damaging winds within a 25-mile area.

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In addition, the peak potential time of tornadoes is between 5 and 8 pm, with a notable 5% chance of a tornado within 25 miles of a point in the area. The risk of severe weather decreases after sunset through 11 pm.

Grand Marais Area

Hail looks to be the largest threat in the Grand Marais area, with a 30% chance of hail larger than one inch possible within a 25-mile area. A slightly lesser, but still quite notable threat of wind is also present, with a 25% chance of strong to damaging wind. The peak window in this area is between 5 and 8 pm, falling off as we reach sunset.

Hayward Area

The Hayward area sees a steadily increasing threat starting around 3 pm all the way until the peak of between 7 pm and 9 pm tonight. Large hail in excess of 2 inches in diameter and strong, potentially damaging wind have a 1-in-3 chance of happening within 25 miles of any given point in the area. A slight risk of tornadoes peaks around 7 pm, before declining into the evening.

Ashland Area

The Ashland area will see its risk of severe weather reach its peak between 6 pm and 9 pm, with a similar 30% chance of large hail and damaging winds across the area. The slight risk of a tornado increases through the afternoon, peaking out around 7 pm before starting to diminish. The threat of severe weather quickly diminishes after sunset.