Minneapolis on alert as millions across the Midwest brace for severe weather

Severe weather is forecast to impact the U.S. Midwest on Monday, April 28, with the City of Minneapolis urging residents to prepare for two rounds of severe weather expected throughout the day.

Minnesota will begin experiencing impacts early on Monday. The first round of storms is expected to continue through the morning hours, producing large hail and strong winds across the region.

A second, potentially more impactful, round of storms is forecast to develop during the afternoon after a brief lull and continue into the evening. This second round carries the potential for EF2+ tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds across affected areas.

Frequent lightning associated with supercells is expected as the storms pass through the region.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), there is some uncertainty regarding the evolution of convection across the warm sector. If storms are able to remain semi-discrete, long-track strong tornadoes will be possible across Minnesota and other parts of the Midwest. Weaker tornadoes could also develop within bowing segments of the anticipated squall line.

Tornado risk will be highest during Monday evening, while the threat of damaging winds along the squall line is expected to peak from late afternoon into early evening.

The City of Minneapolis has advised residents to be weather aware and take necessary precautions ahead of the approaching severe weather.

Residents are urged to ensure they have multiple reliable ways to receive severe weather alerts, prepare for possible power outages by charging their essential electronic devices, and have a flashlight readily available. If an alert is issued, take immediate shelter in a basement or an interior room on the lowest level of a building.

Outdoor furniture and loose objects should be secured to reduce the risk of wind-borne debris during strong winds. To minimize the potential for localized street flooding, clear leaves and debris in front of catch basins to allow proper water drainage.

While the focus is on southern Minnesota, northern Iowa, and western Wisconsin, isolated severe storms are also possible farther south into Kansas and Missouri.

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed Minneapolis along with parts of southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and northern Iowa under a Moderate Risk (level 4/5) of severe thunderstorms through Monday.

A larger area of Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) covers much of the surrounding region, including the remaining parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, and much of Minnesota. Meanwhile, a larger region of Slight Risk (level 2/5) extends from the Great Lakes to the Southern Plains through Monday.

References:

¹ Day 1 Convective Outlook – SPC – April 28, 2025

² City asks residents to prepare for severe storms Monday – Minneapolism.gov – April 27, 2025