Severe Thunderstorm Watch in Effect for Minneapolis Until 1 a.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Minneapolis and most of the Twin Cities from now though 1 a.m.

While the Weather Service says much of the rain may be concentrated in the Minnesota Valley, the storms have been gusting between 45 and 55 mph.

The following Hazardous Weather Outlook has also been issued:

DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS A COLD FRONT DRIFTS SLOWLY SOUTH ACROSS THE REGION. A FEW OF THE STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. IN ADDITION...THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY LATE WILL CAUSE HEAT INDEX VALUES BETWEEN 95 AND 100 DEGREES IN MANY LOCATIONS ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. 

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING TIME FRAME AS WELL. ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL A COUPLE DAYS AWAY...IT APPEARS SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS LATE WEEK SYSTEM. IN FACT...IF THE PATTERN HOLDS TOGETHER...IT COULD BE ONE OF THE MORE ACTIVE SEVERE WEATHER DAYS WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS OTHERWISE FAIRLY QUIET SUMMER IN TERMS OF SEVERE WEATHER.