Duluth, Minn. – Severe thunderstorms could bring damaging winds up to 80 mph, large hail, and flash flooding across northern Minnesota beginning late Friday night and continuing into early Saturday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Duluth, a complex of thunderstorms is expected to develop between 9 and 10 p.m. Friday and last through around 6 to 8 a.m. Saturday. The strongest storms will likely impact Douglas County, the South Shore, and the Arrowhead region, including cities like Duluth, Hibbing, and Brainerd.
Widespread damaging winds of 60 mph are possible, with isolated gusts up to 80 mph. Hail up to 2 inches in diameter could fall across much of the Northland, and a brief tornado or two cannot be ruled out, especially in the Walker-to-Brainerd corridor.
Localized flash flooding is a growing concern, particularly along and south of the Iron Range into the Arrowhead and South Shore, where up to 3 inches of rain may fall overnight. Areas that experienced heavy rain earlier this week, including Ely and Iron Range communities, face heightened flooding risk.
Residents are urged to secure outdoor items, avoid driving through flooded roads, and prepare for potential power outages.
More updates are expected Friday afternoon as storm timing and severity become clearer.
