Storm reports from Tuesday

Thunderstorms blossomed over central and southwest Minnesota Tuesday afternoon. Large hail hammered the area from Albany to Sauk Centre, including St. Cloud and St. Joseph. Spotters reported hail up to an inch and three quarters in diameter, driven by winds exceeding 50 mph at times.

Two and half inches of rain fell at Sauk Rapids in Benton County.

Preliminary storm reports compiled by the Storm Prediction Center for May 1.

Regional reports of severe weather available here. Hail pounded parts of southwest Minnesota as well.

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Doppler radar rainfall estimates for the past 24 hours indicate where the most severe storms struck yesterday aftenoon and evening. Notice that portions of southern Minnesota tallied less than a quarter inch of rain. Around three quarters to one inch of precipitation fell in the Twin Cities metro area.

The water vapor satellite imagery from this morning shows the layered moisture has swept east and south of Minnesota. It will take a few hours for the atmosphere to regroup. We'll look for a boundary to likely set up along the Iowa/Minnesota border to be the focus for storm development this afternoon.

The lighter gray shade is drier air. Brighter white is associated with dense clouds and precipitation.

Source: NOAA

With sunshine today temperatures should response nicely, climbing well into the 70s.

Source: NOAA/NWS

Here's the severe weather outlook for today from the Storm Prediction Center. Notice the higher risk of nasty storms in Iowa.