75 mph winds, 2.5-inch hail, tornadoes possible Saturday in Minnesota

The Storm Prediction Center has placed a large swath of Minnesota, including the Twin Ciites, in an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms on Saturday. 

Damaging winds of up to 75 mph, isolated tornadoes and hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter will be possible with the strongest storms. A severe thunderstorm watch is already in effect until 12 p.m. in western/west-central Minnesota in association with a cluster of storms advancing eastward from South Dakota. 

But the morning storms could set the stage for potentially more severe weather later Saturday. The key to how strong the later storms get will be clouds clearing out and allowing sunshine to destabilize the atmosphere, according to the NWS Twin Cities forecast discussion. 

Fox 9 storm chaser Bill Doms tweeted speculation that today could be volatile, perhaps resembling the severe weather outbreak of August 24, 2006 when there were three EF-3 tornadoes in southern Minnesota. 

Here's a look at the simulated future radar from the HRRR model, which shows the morning convection hanging on as it pushes east across the northern Twin Cities metro area, followed by explosive storm development this afternoon in eastern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota. 

We'll be monitoring the situation throughout the day so be sure to check back for updates.