Severe weather erupted late Wednesday afternoon across central Minnesota as a wave of violent thunderstorms blasted through the Minneapolis area. Hail up to the size of grapefruits fell at Dassel, Minnesota west of Minneapolis and a possible tornado damaged several houses at Andover, just north of Minneapolis.
The storms formed ahead of a cold front at the nose of a prod of hot air that sent temperatures soaring into the 90s and low 100s from the Gulf Coast into Iowa and southern Minnesota.
The hot air brought record midsummer-level heat to the Plains while Chicago on the eastern edge of the heat dome topped out in the upper 80s.
This same cold front will reach Chicago today bringing the potential for strong thunderstorms here, especially in the afternoon. Cooler weather will follow on Friday as clouds and gusty northeast winds hold temperatures to near 70º.
WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center staff provide daily coverage of weather in the Chicago area.
