Willmar, Minn., and region in tornado watch until 10 p.m.
WILLMAR -- A tornado watch is in effect until 10 p.m. today in west central Minnesota, including Willmar and the surrounding area. The National Weather Service says the risk of severe storms tonight is mainly north of a Willmar-to-Rochester line.
The Weather Service says severe thunderstorms could develop before 5 p.m. today from northeast South Dakota into western Minnesota north of a warm front. This activity will likely be in the form of supercells with the threat for very large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes existing.
As the afternoon progresses, these storms are expected to congeal into a line over central Minnesota that will then move southeast across the area this evening and tonight with an attendant risk for damaging straight-line winds and large hail.
Counties in the tornado watch include Big Stone, Chippewa, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Meeker, Otter Tail, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Stearns, Stevens Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin and Yellow Medicine.
