Stay sky aware today and tonight, and be ready to move to shelter.

It will be hot and muggy this afternoon, with an upper level disturbance expected to ignite strong to severe thunderstorms. Severe weather is possible in the Twin Cities metro area late this afternoon and evening, with intense storm activity starting even sooner in western Minnesota.

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) of the National Weather Service has upped our severe weather risk level to moderate risk over much of Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin. Moderate risk is the second highest risk level on the SPC scale. Per SPC definition: Moderate risk is used for an area where widespread severe weather with several tornadoes and/or numerous severe thunderstorms is likely, some of which should be intense. This risk is usually reserved for days with several supercells producing intense tornadoes and/or very large hail, or an intense squall line with widespread damaging winds.

Here is a nice summary of today's weather forecast , from the Twin Cities National Weather Service office:

A heat advisory is in effect from 1 pm to 7 pm for much of southern and central Minnesota. Very warm temperatures and high humidity levels are expected to produce heat index values of about 100 degrees. The heat advisory area in Minnesota is along and west of a line from St. Cloud through the Twin Cities to Albert Lea: