Update: Hazardous Weather Outlook, Flash Flood Watch Issued for Shakopee

Thunderstorms with heavy rain are likely this afternoon and evening as a potent cold front pushes west to east across southern and central Minnesota into western Wisconsin, according to the National Weather Service.

New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. 

There is a small risk that a few of these storms could be severe with large hail and damaging winds. That threat will diminish greatly this evening once the cold front exits to the east.

With the ground nearly saturated across much of the area from previous rainfall, rapid runoff and flash flooding is possible today as the rain moves in largely between now and midnight. 

Drier and cooler high pressure will slide across the region Thursday through Friday but the respite from the rain will be short-lived as another frontal system will bring additional showers and thunderstorms to the region Friday night through Saturday night. A more prolonged period of dry weather is expected for the first half of next week.

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