The risk of severe thunderstorms has increased later today as SPC has highlighted an enhanced area of severe weather potential. A few morning and early afternoon thunderstorms will be possible as across western Minnesota. These storms are forecast to move east across southern Minnesota this afternoon. The greatest threat of severe thunderstorms will occur by mid-late afternoon from Mankato, eastward to Owatonna and Albert Lea. 

Timing remains for the viewing area late this afternoon and especially this evening before ending by midnight.  All modes of severe weather are possible including damaging winds, very large hail, and isolated tornadoes. Please be aware of the latest forecast.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Areas Affected: Allamakee; Cerro Gordo; Chickasaw; Clayton; Emmet; Fayette; Floyd; Hancock; Howard; Kossuth; Mitchell; Palo Alto; Winnebago; Winneshiek; Worth

NWS Storm Prediction Center (Storm Prediction Center - Norman, Oklahoma)
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 239 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1200 AM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS IA . IOWA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE ALLAMAKEE CERRO GORDO CHICKASAW CLAY CLAYTON DICKINSON EMMET FAYETTE FLOYD HANCOCK HOWARD KOSSUTH MITCHELL O'BRIEN OSCEOLA PALO ALTO WINNEBAGO WINNESHIEK WORTH

Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Areas Affected: Blue Earth; Brown; Faribault; Freeborn; Goodhue; Le Sueur; Martin; Nicollet; Rice; Steele; Waseca; Watonwan

NWS Minneapolis (Southern Minnesota)
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 239 REMAINS VALID UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN MINNESOTA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 12 COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA BLUE EARTH BROWN FARIBAULT FREEBORN LE SUEUR MARTIN NICOLLET RICE STEELE WASECA WATONWAN IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA GOODHUE THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALBERT LEA, BLUE EARTH, FAIRMONT, FARIBAULT, LE SUEUR, MANKATO, NEW ULM, OWATONNA, RED WING, ST JAMES, ST PETER, AND WASECA.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Areas Affected: Dodge; Fillmore; Houston; Mower; Olmsted; Wabasha; Winona

NWS Storm Prediction Center (Storm Prediction Center - Norman, Oklahoma)
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 239 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1200 AM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS MN . MINNESOTA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE BLUE EARTH BROWN COTTONWOOD DODGE FARIBAULT FILLMORE FREEBORN GOODHUE HOUSTON JACKSON LE SUEUR MARTIN MOWER MURRAY NICOLLET NOBLES OLMSTED RICE STEELE WABASHA WASECA WATONWAN WINONA