Severe Weather Expected to Hit Edina Later Today

May is truly set to kick off with a bang, with severe weather expected to hit Edina later today.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the Twin Cities, extending through Sunday. Thunderstorms should develop late this afternoon over central and western Minnesota, carrying a slight risk of severe thunderstorms.

The main hazards will be hail and damaging winds, with the possibility of isolated tornadoes that should be confined along and north of Interstate 94.

Tuesday brings the greatest chance for severe thunderstorms this week, the NWS said. The forecast is calling for partly sunny skies and 77 degrees with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms after 1 p.m. It will become breezy with a south wind from 11-21 mph with gusts up to 32 mph.

Potentially severe showers and thunderstorms are likely later in the afternoon and into Tuesday night before 1 a.m. New rainfall of between a quarter of an inch and an inch is expected. 

It appears there will be sufficient instability and wind shear to support the development of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds before a cold front arrives, according to the NWS. A tornado cannot be ruled out. The area most likely to see severe weather is along and west of Interstate 35.

There will be several more bouts of showers and thunderstorms over the next few days. Isolated severe storms are possible again Wednesday and Thursday.

Visit this federal resource for tips to stay safe during natural disasters, and stay tuned to Patch for storm updates.

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