Severe thunderstorm watch for Twin Cities region into early Tuesday

An enhanced risk for severe weather is forecast for east-central and southeastern Minnesota into western Wisconsin Monday evening and overnight. Storms could produce damaging wind gusts.

Just after 9:30 p.m., the National Weather Service posted a severe thunderstorm watch for much of the greater Twin Cities region and northwestern Wisconsin:

Storms for some followed by two dry days 

There’s a severe thunderstorm watch Monday for northwestern Minnesota through 11:59 p.m.

The steamy setup could be fuel for strong to severe storms later this evening into the overnight. An enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) for severe weather includes the Twin Cities through Rochester into western Wisconsin. 

The middle layers of the atmosphere are capped, meaning there’s a layer of very warm air aloft preventing storms from developing during. The most likely area of development will north and east of this ‘cap’ (which is gripping much of central and southern Minnesota) late in the evening and overnight.

There’s a flood watch (dark green shaded in the map below) through 1 a.m. Tuesday that includes the Twin Cities and southeastern Minnesota locations such as Albert Lea and Rochester.

Two dry days after Monday

Behind the system dew points will drop Tuesday making for a more comfortable day.  Dew points will be in the 50s by the afternoon.

We’ll see highs range from the mid-80s south to mid-70s north on Tuesday afternoon with partly cloudy skies.

Wednesday will be cooler with highs mostly in the 70s. Both Tuesday and Wednesday will be dry.

More rain is possible Thursday into Friday with the next system just as rivers will be cresting to levels that will be their highest in at least five years, some at record levels.