Minnesota weather: Storms bring rain, frequent lightning

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Storms, some severe, pushed across Minnesota and into the Twin Cities early Saturday morning. Here are live updates. 

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Live updates on overnight storms can be found below. You can check active weather alerts here. 

Here's a look at the Saturday morning weather forecast:

Storm photos submitted by viewers overnight can be viewed below: 

5:50 a.m. - Storms move past Twin Cities

The bulk of the rain and the rumbles rolled through the Twin Cities around 5:50 a.m. on Saturday. Lightning and rain have moved into western Wisconsin, and unsettled storms could continue to pop up in southeastern Minnesota. 

5:25 a.m. - Thousands without power

About 12,000 Xcel Energy customers were without power early Saturday morning as storms with frequent lighting and heavy rain pushed through the Twin Cities metro.

5:05 a.m. - Heavy rain in Twin Cities; severe storms in Wisconsin

It's a loud morning in the Twin Cities metro, with thunder, lighting and heavy rain reported. Plymouth has picked up about 2 inches of rain so far during Saturday morning's storms. 

Meanwhile, some areas of northwest Wisconsin, including Hayward, are under a severe thunderstorm warning until 6 a.m.

4:35 a.m. - Rain, lightning and thunder

It's a loud morning in the Twin Cities as storms push through the metro, producing heavy rain and frequent lightning. Some hail has been reported in downtown Minneapolis.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 6 a.m. but there are no active severe thunderstorm warnings as of this writing. 

4:20 a.m. - Some power outages reported

About 2,000 Xcel Energy customers in and around the Twin Cities metro were without power early Saturday morning as storms pushed through. 

4:07 a.m. - Severe thunderstorm watch extended

The National Weather Service has extended the severe thunderstorm watch that was set to expire at 4 a.m. Saturday through 6 a.m. Saturday and expanded the watch area further east into Wisconsin. 

The storms have the potential for damaging winds, hail and heavy rain, which could lead to localized flooding.

3:50 a.m. - Storms pushing into Twin Cities metro

Storms, which have produced heavy rain and lightning, are pushing into the Twin Cities metro. There are no active severe thunderstorm warnings in effect for the Twin Cities metro, but a severe thunderstorm watch is in effect. Heavy rain, gusty winds and maybe some hail are possible, with rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches per hour possible. 

Areas from Buffalo to Maple Lake have picked up about 2+ inches of rain. Some areas in Wright County saw hail. 

The severe thunderstorm watch is currently set to expire at 4 a.m. Saturday but there are signs it may be extended. 

2:35 a.m. - Storms northwest of the Twin Cities

Sherburne and Wright counties are under severe thunderstorm warnings early Saturday morning. The areas are seeing heavy rain, with ponding on roadways possible. No flash flood warnings have been issued as of this writing. 

If this trend holds, storms could push into the Twin Cities metro in the next couple of hours. 

2:05 a.m. - Heavy rain, lighting

Rainfall rates are about 2 inches over 30 minutes with this storm, which could lead to flash flooding. Lots of lighting  is also part of these storms. 

 You can check active weather alerts here. 

1:40 a.m. Saturday - Severe thunderstorm warnings

Severe thunderstorm warnings are starting to pop up in some areas of cabin country, including Pequot Lakes and Crosslake early Saturday, until 2:30 a.m. 

A severe thunderstorm warning has also been issued for the Elk River and Monticello area until 2:30 a.m.

You can check active weather alerts here. 

9:45 p.m. Friday - Severe thunderstorm watch issued

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued through 4 a.m. for much of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro. 

Scattered overnight storms could lead to gusty winds, some hail and even an isolated tornado. 

Timeline of what to expect

Storms in Minnesota:

A cold front will plow through the state on Friday night and could trigger a line of powerful storms, initially causing a hail threat for North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, but transitioning more to a wind threat as the night continues. 

There is a level 2 risk of severe storms for all of Minnesota, except southeastern Minnesota, which is under a level 1 marginal risk. The primary threat of this system is 60+ wind gusts and 1-2 inch hail and an isolated tornado.

Timeline:

A line of storms is expected to fire late Friday evening into early Saturday morning in North Dakota and/or northwestern Minnesota and move southeast through the state into early Saturday morning. 

The storms may not reach the Twin Cities until after 3 a.m. or possibly as late as 5 a.m. Saturday, and should be exiting the metro on Saturday morning. 

You can check active weather alerts here. 

Stay Sky Aware with the FOX 9 Weather App. Whether you are staying in one place or traveling, have your GPS locator on and your notifications turned on. If you drive into a warning, you will get an alert specific to where you are. Apple Download | Android Download

Minnesota weekend forecast

What's next:

Saturday is expected to be warm and muggy, with highs in the mid-80s and clearing skies after morning storms. Sunday will be mostly sunny and less humid with highs in the mid-80s.

Temperatures are expected to hold steady into the week ahead, staying slightly above average with additional chances for some rumbles. 

Here’s a look at the seven-day forecast: