Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued For Rice County

RICE COUNTY, MN — The National Weather Service has issued a "hazardous weather outlook" alert for much of central Minnesota, including Rice County. Storms Wednesday could be severe and produce damaging winds.

"Thunderstorms are expected this morning into the afternoon," the NWS said.

There is a risk for severe thunderstorms, "with the most likely threat of high winds across southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Other threats like hail cannot be ruled out and there could be some storms farther north."

Here are the counties affected by the weather alert:

Stevens, Pope, Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Isanti, Chisago, Lac Qui Parle, Swift, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Wright, Hennepin, Anoka, Ramsey, Washington, Yellow Medicine, Renville, McLeod, Sibley, Carver, Scott, Dakota, Redwood, Brown, Nicollet, Le Sueur, Rice, Goodhue, Watonwan, Blue Earth, Waseca, Steele, Martin, Faribault, Freeborn, Polk, Barron, Rusk, St. Croix, Pierce, Dunn, Pepin, Eau Claire.

Here's the full NWS forecast for the Twin Cities metro area:

Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 80. Light south southeast wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 62. East southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming east southeast around 5 mph in the morning.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.