The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Freeborn County in south central Minnesota...
Eastern Faribault County in south central Minnesota...
Southwestern Steele County in south central Minnesota...
Southern Waseca County in south central Minnesota...

* Until 500 PM CDT.

* At 417 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Wells, or 15
miles west of Albert Lea, moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
Albert Lea, Wells, New Richland, Clarks Grove, Ellendale, Alden,
Geneva, Emmons, Bricelyn, Hartland, Freeborn, and Mansfield.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 35 between mile markers 1 and 33.
Interstate 90 between mile markers 129 and 162.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Large hail, damaging wind, and continuous cloud to ground lightning
are occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is
one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder,
you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for south central
Minnesota.

&&


HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED;
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN;
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED;
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 277 IN
EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN MINNESOTA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 15 COUNTIES

IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA

SIBLEY

IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA

CARVER                DAKOTA                SCOTT

IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA

BLUE EARTH            FARIBAULT             FREEBORN
LE SUEUR              MARTIN                NICOLLET
RICE                  STEELE                WASECA
WATONWAN

IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA

GOODHUE

IN WISCONSIN THIS WATCH INCLUDES 1 COUNTY

IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN

PEPIN

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALBERT LEA, BLUE EARTH, CHANHASSEN,
CHASKA, DURAND, FAIRMONT, FARIBAULT, GAYLORD, HASTINGS, LE SUEUR,
MANKATO, OWATONNA, RED WING, SHAKOPEE, ST JAMES, ST PETER,
VICTORIA, AND WASECA.

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be
possible.

* WHERE...Portions of south central, southeast, and southwest
Minnesota, including the following counties, in south central
Minnesota, Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Freeborn, Le Sueur,
Martin, Nicollet, Rice, Steele, Waseca and Watonwan. In southeast
Minnesota, Goodhue. In southwest Minnesota, Redwood.

* WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,
creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms should occur
this morning through this evening. This activity will have a
very good chance at producing heavy rainfall rates due to
high precipitable water values and strong lifting mechanisms.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

&&