Stormy Saturday Night Predicted in Dakota County

Dakota County won't experience the severe weather bringing tornadoes to parts of Oklahoma and states to the south, but residents should still be prepared for severe thunderstorms and a chance of hail late tonight. 

The National Weather Service this morning posted a Hazardous Weather Outlook for much of southern Minnesota for later today and tomorrow, including Scott, Dakota, Hennepin and Ramsey counties.

A strong low pressure system will bring a warm front north into the region today with partly sunny skies and a high temperature near 71.

Then thunderstorms are expected to develop over Iowa and Nebraska this evening and lift northeast across much of the area. Severe thunderstorms with large hail and strong winds will be possible over southwest into south central Minnesota this evening and then in central Minnesota overnight. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch are possible. 

Thunderstorms will again be possible into Sunday. The greatest threat of severe thunderstorms Sunday will occur over east central Minnesota around noon and then move rapidly east into western Wisconsin.