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'Particularly dangerous situation' unfolding in Northern Plains, Upper Midwest

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Nearly 2 millions Americans face severe weather threats on Memorial Day including giant hail, damaging winds and the possibility of intense, long-tracked tornadoes.

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Nearly 200 storm damage reports

The National Weather Service so far compiled almost 200 reports of storm damage this Memorial Day. Here are a few standouts.

Emergency managers reported that a potential tornado in Starbuck, Minnesota rolled a pick-up truck and trailer. Another potential tornado tore down several farm buildings.

The Appleton Airport in Minnesota clocked a 90 mph wind gust. A wind gust in Dell Rapids, South Dakota blew over a semi. And, 60 mph gusts smashed nickel-size hail into windows.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

Severe weather troubling travelers

The FlightAware Misery Map shows in and outbound flights delayed for the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. So far, 21 flights have been canceled and 189 delayed.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

Crane Lake residents take cover

The NWS warns Orr and Crane Lake, Minnesota to take cover. A radar indicated tornado over Orr is moving northeast at 50 mph and capable of dropping quarter-size hail.

St. Louis County is under a Tornado Warning until 8:30 p.m.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

FOX Weather times out the severe storm outbreak in the upper Mid-west

Posted by Hillary Andrews
Developing Story

More possible tornado damage pictures in Minnesota

A farmer in Milan, Minnesota photographs a possible tornado near the farm and takes cover. Take a look at the crushed buildings, tumbled farm equipment and missing shingles they found when they came out from their safe place.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

Severe Thunderstorm threat extended to 2 a.m.

The NWS issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin until 2 a.m. (the yellow shading). Cities under threat include Eau Claire and Rochester, Wisconsin.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect for parts of Minnesota until 10 p.m. for cities including Minneapolis, St. Paul and Mankato.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

More Iowa counties added to Tornado Watch

The NWS expanded the Tornado Watch that runs through 1 a.m. More Iowa counties are under threat including the cities of Mason City, Clear Lake and DesMoines.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

Warnings approaching Minneapolis Metro

Over 1.2 million people are under a warning right now. An impressive line of storms is closing in on Minneapolis.

A radar indicated tornado capable of dropping baseball-size hail is over Montrose and moving northeast at 70 mph. Wright County, Minnesota is under a Tornado Warning until 7 p.m.

Itasca, Aitkin and St. Louis Counties are under a tornado warning until 7 p.m.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

VIDEO: Dangerous potentially rain-wrapped tornado

Storm chaser Jason Bednar captures what looks to be a rain-wrapped tornado. From this video, it is easy to see why tornadoes obscured by rain are so dangerous as we can barely see them coming.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

Thousands without power across storm ravaged areas

According to PowerOutage.US thousands are in the dark.

  • Minnesota 28,481
  • South Dakota 11,048
  • Iowa 5,599
  • Wisconsin 4,178
  • Nebraska 237
Posted by Hillary Andrews

Possible tornado and ping pong ball-size hail

A radar indicated tornado was near Lester Prairie moving northeast at 75 mph. This storm is capable of producing ping pong ball size hail. Wright, McLeod and Carver Counties in Minnesota are under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 6:45.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

Hundreds of storm reports so far for Plains

Posted by Hillary Andrews
Developing Story

First glimpse of tornado devastation

First responders and storm chasers launch drones to get a full idea of the destruction left behind from a confirmed tornado in Forada, Minnesota.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

Expanded Tornado Watch

The NWS extended the Tornado Watch from Minnesota through Iowa, Missouri and into Kansas. The Minnesota section of the Watch expires at 10 p.m. but the remainder is in effect to 1 a.m.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

Tornado Warning until 6 p.m.

The National Weather Service extended their Tornado Warning for Todd and Morrison Counties in Minnesota until 6 p.m.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

Tornado sirens blare across Hoffman, Minnesota

Many towns across Minnesota are hearing tornado warning sirens.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

Tornado Warning for Wadena County

Wadena County. Minnesota is under a Tornado Warning until 6 p.m. for a radar indicated twister over Staples Airport moving northwest at 75 mph.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

More counties under threat of tornadoes

The NWS identified a tornado by radar near Murdock, Minnesota and moving northeast at 85 mph. Douglass and Todd Counties are under a Tornado Warning until 5:30.

A confirmed tornado near Carlos, Minnesota is moving northeast at 60 mph. That Tornado Warning ends at 5:30 for Todd and Morrison Counties.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

Tornado Warning for Minnesota

The NWS issued a Tornado Warning for Otter Tail and Becker Counties, Minnesota until 5:46. The radar indicated tornado was near Perham moving north at 65 mph.

Posted by Hillary Andrews

Something to watch: Possible storm development in Kansas

FOX Weather is tracking possible storm development near Wichita, Kansas over the next few hours.

If a storm develops, hail, winds and possible tornadoes are possible.

Posted by Emilee Speck

Tornado damage reported in Forada, Minnesota

Damage reports have started to come into the NWS Twin Cities after a tornado was spotted moving east of Alexandria.

Posted by Emilee Speck
Breaking News

Tornado Warnings continue as severe weather approaches St. Cloud, Minneapolis

A Tornado Warning is in effect until 4:45 p.m. for south Douglas and west Pope counties in Minnesota.

At 4:17 p.m. the storm line was moving north at 60 mph. If you are in Glenwood, Lowry and Alexandria, take cover now.

The threat continues to move rapidly toward the northeast and is expected to be over Minneapolis around 6 p.m. CDT.

Posted by Emilee Speck

90 mph wind gust recorded in Appleton, Minn.

As the main line of severe thunderstorms shifts northeast, a top wind gust of 90 mph was recorded at Appleton Airport in Minnesota.

The potentially dangerous situation Tornado Watch continues to bring large hail and wind gusts to eastern Minnesota through Monday evening.

Posted by Emilee Speck

WATCH: Hail 'really coming down' in Sioux Falls

Michael Rios recorded this hail shower video in Sioux Falls, South Dakota as severe storms rolled through the area Monday afternoon.

Posted by Emilee Speck

Wind reports from South Dakota topping 70 mph

Top wind reports are rolling in with gusts up to 70 mph reported in Tyndall and Brandon, South Dakota.

Hail reports with golf-ball size hailstones are also coming in from Nebraska and Minnesota.

Posted by Emilee Speck

Take cover now: Reports of tornado east of Sherman, South Dakota

A tornado was spotted east of Sherman at 3:14 p.m. moving northeast at 35 mph, according to the NWS.

A Tornado Warning was issued for northwest Rock County, Minn. and east central Minnehaha County, SD until 3:45 p.m. CDT.

Those in the area need to take cover now.

Posted by Emilee Speck

New Tornado Warning includes Big Stone, Minnesota

Numerous Tornado Warnings are in effect for northeast South Dakota and western Minnesota.

The NWS in Aberdeen, South Dakota has issued a Tornado Warning for parts of Big Stone County in west central Minnesota, and Roberts and Grant counties in northeast South Dakota.

The latest warning continues until 3:45 p.m. CDT.

Posted by Emilee Speck

Widespread tennis-ball size hail likely in parts of Minnesota, South Dakota

The Memorial Day severe weather threat includes the possibility of large to giant hail.

Reports of large hail have started to come in across South Dakota, Nebraska and Minnesota.

Part of what produces large hailstones is wind. According to the National Weather Service, upward wind speeds of 64 mph will support a hailstone as large as a golf ball, while a grapefruit-sized stone needs a 98-mph updraft.

Posted by Emilee Speck
Breaking News

'Particularly dangerous situation': Tornado Watch issued for Minnesota, South Dakota

Forecasters with the NWS Storm Prediction Center are calling the tornado threat across Minnesota and eastern South Dakota a "particularly dangerous situation" as the severe storm continues to push northeastward.

The latest Tornado Watch from the SPC includes southwest and central Minnesota, including St. Cloud and Grand Rapids. The Watch continues to include northeast South Dakota, including Watertown.

Widespread wind gusts up to 80 mph and tennis-ball size hall are likely. The new Watch continues until 10 p.m. CDT.

Posted by Emilee Speck
Breaking News

LIVE UPDATES: FOX Weather Alert System

Follow live weather alerts in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.

Posted by Emilee Speck

Multiple communities in South Dakota under Tornado Warnings

The tornado threat is increasing as the storm moves toward the South Dakota-Minnesota state line.

Residents in Dell Rapids, Baltic and Flandreau, Egan and surrounding communities should seek shelter. A Tornado Warning for this area is in effect until 3 p.m. CDT.

Another Tornado Warning is in place for Volga, Arlington and Bruce, South Dakota. That warning continues until 2:45 p.m. CDT.

Posted by Emilee Speck
Breaking News

New Tornado Warning issued in South Dakota

The tornado threat appears to be increasing across eastern South Dakota, according to forecasters with NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.

A Tornado Warning was issued for Madison, Lake Madison and Ramona, South Dakota until 2:15 p.m. CDT. This includes parts of east McCook county.

The storm was located 7 miles outside of Orland moving north at 55 mph.

Posted by Emilee Speck

Tornado Warning underway for eastern South Dakota

The NWS has issued a Tornado Warning in Spencer, Canova and Unityville, South Dakota until 1:45 p.m.

People under the warning should take shelter.

The storm continues to move north at 35 mph.

Posted by Emilee Speck

Thunderstorm lights up Northern Plains

More than 3,500 lightning strikes were recorded within the past 15 minutes across the U.S.

The image above shows a concentrated area of lightning in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest as storms roll through bringing severe weather across four states.

Learn why lightning can rattle your windows here.

Posted by Emilee Speck

Damaging wind gusts possible across Northern Plains

Monday's thunderstorms will include potentially damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph or higher in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

A Wind Advisory remains in effect until 8 p.m. CDT Monday for east central and southeast South Dakota,  northeast Nebraska, northwest and west central Iowa and  southwest Minnesota, including the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal Nation tribal lands.

Intense wind gusts could knock down trees and cause power outages.

Posted by Emilee Speck

Power outages reported in West Central Minnesota

Xcel Energy in Minnesota is responding to power outages Monday likely caused by severe weather across the region.

Posted by Emilee Speck

Watch vs. Warning and other weather advisories to know

Posted by Emilee Speck
Breaking News

Tornado Watch underway in Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa

The first Tornado Watch of Monday's thunderstorm system has been issued by the National Weather Service.

The Watch continues until 6 p.m. for northwest Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska  and southeast South Dakota. About 1 million people are under this watch.

Large hail, damaging winds up to 75 mph and tornadoes are all possible as these storms strengthen.

Posted by Emilee Speck

Timeline: Severe threat across eastern Nebraska, southwest Iowa

Potentially dangerous weather is rolling through eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa throughout Monday and into the night.

The NWS in Omaha is tracking storms off and on throughout the day, with the most severe threat between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Some storms could continue past 10 p.m. in far southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa.

Posted by Emilee Speck

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