Alert! Northern Minnesota Has The Worst Severe Weather Risk In The Entire Country Today – What To Expect

It's going to be a bumpy day weather-wise today across a sizable portion of the Northland.

Across all of the United States, the most serious, worst severe weather threat on Wednesday is in Northern Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin. The bullseye of the greatest potential for powerful, dangerous storms is centered on the eastern part of Northern Minnesota and part of Northern Wisconsin, including the Iron Range, Twin Ports area, Brainerd, and Ashland.

The levels of risk for severe storms are on a 5-point scale, with the area in orange at the third-highest on the scale.

This National Weather Service and their Storm Prediction Center have actually increased the potential risk since yesterday, with the area in orange being categorized as an area with an "enhanced risk" for numerous severe storms.

What can we expect with these storms?

Large Hail

The latest update as of Wednesday from the National Weather Service shows a very high risk for up to baseball-size hail. The greatest risk area is the area shaded in red above, which includes the Twin Ports, North Shore, parts of Northwestern Wisconsin, and the Iron Range.

The hail threat is so significant that the Duluth office of the National Weather Service is warning people about taking extra precautions to stay safe.

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Strong Wind

There is also a significant threat of strong winds with this storm, up to 70 mph. The greatest area of risk is once again centered on the Twin Ports area, spanning toward Brainerd to the west and Ashland to the east. The greatest risk area is shaded in red above. Downed trees and power outages are among impacts that could be expected.

Tornado Risk

The area in brown above has the greatest risk of seeing a tornado, with a few possible during the height of today's storms. Included in this risk area are the Twin Ports, Brainerd, Cloquet, and parts of Northwestern Wisconsin.

Other Risks

As with any severe thunderstorms, frequent cloud-to-ground lighting and some flooding are also possibilities.

When will these storms hit?

The window for severe weather is from around 3 pm to 11 pm today, with the peak time of risk expected to ramp up by dinnertime and into early evening, with a lesser but remaining risk into the early morning hours of Thursday.

It's a really good idea today to make sure you're keeping an eye on the weather situation this afternoon, being prepared to head indoors when storms arrive, and take proper precautions to make sure stuff on your property is ready for the potential of strong winds and large hail.