Panhandles Brace for 80 MPH Gusts; MN/WI Faces Hail, Tornado Risk — SevereWX
Panhandles Brace for 80 MPH Gusts; MN/WI Faces Hail, Tornado Risk
Afternoon thunderstorms are gaining steam across two distant regions, packing serious severe weather punches. In the southwestern Plains, storms firing near the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Raton Mesa in far southeast Colorado and northeast New Mexico are set to push east into far southwest Kansas, and the western/central Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles. Expect severe wind gusts up to 70-80 mph as these high-based storms cluster amid steep lapse rates and decent shear, despite modest CAPE. Hail up to 1.25 inches is also possible. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) gives an 80% chance of issuing a severe thunderstorm watch by late afternoon.
Meanwhile, up north, a cold front slicing through eastern Minnesota into northwestern Wisconsin is sparking initial supercells with large hail threats, fueled by 1000-1500 J/kg CAPE and low inhibition. Modest shear supports damaging winds from evolving multicell clusters, plus a brief tornado can't be ruled out thanks to enhanced low-level rotation. Watch odds here sit at 60%, with potential issuance soon as coverage ramps up.
What’s a Mesoscale Discussion (MCD)? SPC issues MCDs when they spot fast-evolving, localized setups ripe for severe storms—like these boundary-driven clusters. It's an early heads-up for the public and NWS offices that conditions warrant close monitoring, often preceding a watch to give folks time to prepare.
Stay weather-aware this afternoon. Bookmark radar apps, sign up for local alerts, and review your severe weather plan—secure outdoors, seek shelter if storms near, and protect against wind, hail, and rare spin-ups. Safety first as these threats unfold.
Issued: August 25, 2026 | Follow @SevereWXdotNet for updates.
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