Note:
The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is
replaced, cancelled or extended.
Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
SEL3
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 593
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
655 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
West-Central Minnesota
* Effective this Monday night from 655 PM until Midnight CDT.
* Primary threats include...
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5
inches in diameter possible
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
SUMMARY...Supercells may continue to pose a threat for large to very
large hail up to 1.5-2.5 inches in diameter as they track
east-southeastward this evening. Occasional severe/damaging winds
may also occur if a cluster can eventually form.
The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 45
statute miles east and west of a line from 45 miles northeast of
Alexandria MN to 60 miles south of Alexandria MN. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU3).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REMEMBER...A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 590...WW 591...WW 592...
AVIATION...A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
30035.
...Gleason
Note:
The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area.
The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
SAW3 WW 593 SEVERE TSTM MN 172355Z - 180500Z AXIS..45 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE.. 45NE AXN/ALEXANDRIA MN/ - 60S AXN/ALEXANDRIA MN/ ..AVIATION COORDS.. 40NM E/W /29W BRD - 34NNW RWF/ HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..2.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS. MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 30035. LAT...LON 46329379 45009448 45009632 46329568 THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS FOR WOU3.
Watch 593 Status Report Messages:
STATUS REPORT #1 ON WW 593 VALID 180240Z - 180340Z SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES RIGHT OF A LINE FROM 25 NW RWF TO 15 S AXN TO 30 SSE DTL. ..SQUITIERI..08/18/26 ATTN...WFO...MPX... && STATUS REPORT FOR WS 593 SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS MNC009-041-067-093-097-145-153-180340- MN . MINNESOTA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE BENTON DOUGLAS KANDIYOHI MEEKER MORRISON STEARNS TODD $$ THE WATCH STATUS MESSAGE IS FOR GUIDANCE PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE REFER TO WATCH COUNTY NOTIFICATION STATEMENTS FOR OFFICIAL INFORMATION ON COUNTIES...INDEPENDENT CITIES AND MARINE ZONES CLEARED FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO WATCHES. $$
Note:
Click for Complete Product Text.
Tornadoes
| Probability of 2 or more tornadoes |
Low (10%) |
| Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes |
Low ( |
Wind
| Probability of 10 or more severe wind events |
Mod (40%) |
| Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots |
Low (10%) |
Hail
| Probability of 10 or more severe hail events |
Mod (40%) |
| Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches |
Mod (30%) |
Combined Severe Hail/Wind
| Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events |
High (70%) |
For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch
(listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster.
The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2%
to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities),
“Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%.
High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of
an increased threat for a particular event.