Brewing Upper Midwest severe weather outbreak threatens Minneapolis with strong tornadoes, destructive winds
Millions of people in cities like Minneapolis and Des Moines, Iowa, are being urged to prepare for the potentially life-threatening severe weather outbreak, which is expected to begin Monday afternoon and continue well into Monday night.
Tornado threat increases as Upper Midwest prepares for likely severe weather outbreak Monday
Tens of millions of people are being told to prepare for powerful thunderstorms on Monday as the Upper Midwest braces for a likely severe weather outbreak that could blast cities like Minneapolis with very large hail, damaging wind gusts and strong tornadoes. FOX Weather Meteorologist Jane Minar breaks down the latest forecast update on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
MINNEAPOLIS – A significant severe weather outbreak is expected to unfold across portions of the Upper Midwest on Monday, with forecasters warning that conditions will be favorable for the development of very large hail, damaging wind gusts and strong tornadoes.
Millions of people in cities like Minneapolis are being urged to prepare for the potentially life-threatening severe weather outbreak, which is expected to begin Monday afternoon and continue well into Monday night.
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"There are a lot less question marks when it comes to what is likely going to happen (Monday) in parts of the Upper Midwest," FOX Weather Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari said. "We are likely to see a severe weather outbreak. We could have a tornado outbreak, including some long-track, violent tornadoes. Again, this is not terminology that I throw around very loosely."
The FOX Forecast Center said the strong storm system will move quickly through the region, fueled by a powerful jet stream overhead and a strengthening surface low-pressure system moving from the northern Plains into the Great Lakes region.
Warm, moist air will surge northward ahead of the system, setting the stage for a very unstable atmosphere by midday, especially across portions of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
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In total, more than 45 million people from the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas to the U.S.-Canada border in the Upper Midwest will be at risk of severe weather on Monday.
However, the threat is significantly higher on the northern end of that risk zone, where more than 5 million people have been placed in a Level 4 out of 5 risk on NOAA's Storm Prediction Center's severe thunderstorm risk scale.
The heightened risk zone includes cities like Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Bloomington and Plymouth in Minnesota and Eau Claire and La Crosse in Wisconsin.
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![This graphic shows the tornado threat on Monday, April 28, 2025.]()
Image 1 of 2This graphic shows the tornado threat on Monday, April 28, 2025. ( )
![This graphic shows the tornado threat on Monday, April 28, 2025.]()
Image 2 of 2This graphic shows the tornado threat on Monday, April 28, 2025. ( )
Forecasters say all severe weather threats are possible with the thunderstorms that develop on Monday.
This includes the threat of very large hail over 2 inches and destructive wind gusts. Strong tornadoes (EF-2 or higher) are also possible, especially across portions of Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.
That heightened tornado threat includes more than 11 million people in cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul, Madison in Wisconsin, Des Moines in Iowa and Rockford in Illinois.
Multiday severe weather threat extends into Tuesday
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The multiday severe weather threat will continue into Tuesday, putting even more people at risk of extreme weather.
More than 66 million people from Texas to the Northeast will be at risk of severe weather. However, the highest threat will be centered from central Ohio into western Pennsylvania and western and central New York, where the SPC has posted a Level 3 out of 5 risk.
This Level 3 risk zone includes some 11.5 million people in cities such as Columbus and Cleveland in Ohio, Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and Rochester in New York.