Tornado Watch Issued for Northeast Iowa, Southeast Minnesota, and Southwest Wisconsin

Strategic Insights -

A tornado watch has been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Prediction Center for portions of Northeast Iowa, Southeast Minnesota, and Southwest Wisconsin. The watch is effective from 2:55 PM to 10:00 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. The primary threats include a couple of tornadoes and scattered damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph. Isolated supercell thunderstorms are expected to intensify in the next few hours across southern Minnesota, posing a risk of a few tornadoes and damaging wind gusts.

Key Takeaways:

  • The tornado watch area is approximately along and 45 statute miles north and south of a line from 20 miles west-northwest of Fairmont, MN, to 45 miles east of La Crosse, WI.
  • The watch area includes Northeast Iowa, Southeast Minnesota, and Southwest Wisconsin.
  • Isolated supercell thunderstorms are likely to intensify in the next few hours across southern Minnesota, in a moist and moderately sheared environment.
  • These storms will track eastward across the watch area, posing a risk of a few tornadoes and damaging wind gusts.
  • The tornado watch remains in effect until 10:00 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
  • Persons in the watch area should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.

Statistics:

  • The probability of 2 or more tornadoes is 30% (Moderate).
  • The probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes is 10% (Low).
  • The probability of 10 or more severe wind events is 40% (Moderate).
  • The probability of 1 or more wind events of 65 knots is 20% (Low).

Sources:

  • National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Prediction Center
  • NWS Watch Outline Update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1)
  • SAW1 WW 461 TORNADO IA MN WI 251955Z -- 260300Z
  • Tornado Watch Number 461
  • US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)