Severe thunderstorm threat: Latest implications for Minnesota, Wisconsin on Friday

Officials continue to monitor the potential for severe storms that could bring large hail and damaging winds to Minnesota on Friday evening.

A series of strong thunderstorms were ongoing in west-central Minnesota on Friday morning, setting the stage for a hot and steamy day that could send heat indices over 100 in the Twin Cities and parts of southern Minnesota.

This in turn will provide the energy needed for another round of storms – this time severe – as a cool front approaches on Friday evening, though the National Weather Service notes that there is still some uncertainty over the storm's track and severity.

It says the main risk is large hail and winds of up to 70 mph, which could "persist for much of the night as the front heads east."

As things stand, the best chance of severe s