DAKOTAS AND WESTERN MINNESOTA — An all-hazards severe weather threat is on deck for Tuesday June 9th across the Dakotas and western Minnesota, with a powerful shortwave tracking through the northern continental United States responsible for a heightened and significant severe weather setup.
The Max Velocity categorical outlook updated Sunday June 7th places an Enhanced Risk orange zone centered over the North Dakota and South Dakota border region near Fargo, surrounded by a Slight Risk yellow zone extending from Rapid City through Sioux Falls and toward Minneapolis.
Enhanced Risk Orange Zone Centered Near Fargo and the Dakota Border Region
The Enhanced Risk zone represents the third highest tier on the five-level severe weather scale and is centered over the North Dakota and South Dakota border area near Fargo. This level of risk indicates well-organized and long-tracked severe storms are likely, with all hazards including tornadoes, very large hail, and damaging winds all in play across the Enhanced zone.
Communities across the Fargo corridor and surrounding areas in both Dakotas should treat Tuesday as a serious severe weather day with shelter plans in place well before storm initiation.
Slight Risk Yellow Zone Covers Rapid City Sioux Falls and Toward Minneapolis
The broader Slight Risk yellow zone extends from Rapid City and western South Dakota northeastward through Sioux Falls and continuing toward the Minneapolis and Rochester corridor in western Minnesota. This zone carries a meaningful severe weather threat and communities within it should not dismiss the risk simply because they sit outside the Enhanced zone core…