St. Cloud, Minn. – A tornado watch is in effect across central and southwestern Minnesota and eastern South Dakota until 1 a.m. CDT Sunday, as strong storms threaten to spin up dangerous rotation overnight.
According to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, Tornado Watch 474 covers 27 Minnesota counties—including Stearns, Wright, Kandiyohi, and Redwood—and 11 counties in South Dakota such as Brookings, Lake, and Moody. The alert was issued at 6:35 p.m. CDT Saturday and includes cities like St. Cloud, Willmar, and Pipestone.
Strong thunderstorms developing across the region may bring large hail, damaging winds over 60 mph, and isolated tornadoes, especially in areas where warm, humid air has pooled ahead of the storm line. Residents are urged to remain weather-aware, with charged phones and safe shelter options ready.
Several counties, including Sherburne, Mille Lacs, and Cottonwood, lie within zones that have seen previous early-summer tornado activity. High wind shear and unstable conditions could allow rotating storms to persist into the early hours.
The watch remains active through 1 a.m. CDT Sunday, and further warnings may be issued. Stay tuned to local alerts and avoid travel in impacted areas if severe warnings are issued.
