Timeline for potential Thursday storms

(KMSP) - Severe weather is possible this afternoon in south central, east central Minnesota and west central Wisconsin. The primary risk will be strong winds. Large hail and heavy rain will also be possible, along with a potential of few tornadoes from far southern Minnesota through west central Wisconsin.

The high in the Twin Cities will be around 68 degrees, but the high will be closer to 80 degrees in southeast Minnesota with cooler 50s to the northwest. This sharp gradient of cool-to-warm temperatures across the state will help trigger strong storms as a cold front rolls through this evening.

The timing of the severe weather will be around 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. across the area and will likely impact the Twin Cities metro area around 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The key threat of the storm will be damaging wind gusts more than 60 miles per hour. Possible secondary threats also include large hail about one inch or greater, heavy rain and very isolated tornadoes across areas south and east of the metro. Some areas could see two to three inches of rain.