Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorm cells tracked across eastern Minnesota late in the afternoon on Friday, June 19, 2026, producing large hail and some gusty winds.
The storms developed as sunny conditions heated the air above the ground, while strong winds aloft blew overhead. One set of thunderstorms formed south of Brainerd near Motley, and moved east-southeastward through Onamia, and toward the St. Croix River before passing into Wisconsin. This storm produced a swath of quarter-sized hail (about an inch in diameter).
Another, more compact and isolated cell, developed near the borders of Meeker, Wright, and Stearns counties and then drifted east-southeastward into the northwestern Twin Cities. This storm produced 1-inch hail near Corcoran, and again near Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park, before reaching peak intensity as it tracked near I-694 and Minnesota Highway 36,eventually crossing I-94 in the eastern Twin Cities. Hail up to the size of half-dollars and golf balls battered northeastern Minneapolis, Columbia Heights, Fridley, Shoreview, Roseville, northern and eastern parts of Saint Paul, Maplewood, and Woodbury.
This storm was small enough that areas west and south of downtown St. Paul heard constant thunder but received no rain, while areas just 1-2 miles north and east of downtown saw heavy rain and hail.
Other thunderstorms with gusty winds swept across parts of central and southern Minnesota before dissipating during the evening, minor damage to limbs and a few trees.
Posted June 22, 2026
KAB