Tornado weather passes through southeastern Minnesota
Update: 8:10 p.m.
A tornado watch continues in southeastern Minnesota until 10 p.m. but the Twin Cities area is no longer included.
The watch still lasts until 10 p.m. Now it includes Fillmore, Wabasha, Winona, and Houston counties in Minnesota and six western Wisconsin counties.
The National Weather Service will update weather alerts online here.
Some funnel clouds have been photographed in the area this evening, especially around Eyota, Minnesota, which is between Rochester and Winona.
Below is our story from earlier Wednesday evening.
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Part of eastern Minnesota is under a tornado watch.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for Chisago, Goodhue, Wabasha, and Washington counties until 10 p.m. Wednesday.
The National Weather Service says a cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms is "growing in size and intensity" from Owatonna to Rice Lake, Wisconsin, noting there have been reports of hail and tornadoes in Iowa and near Spring Valley, Wisconsin, which is about 60 miles east of Minneapolis.
The agency says a couple tornadoes are possible in the tornado watch area.
There could also be hail the size of limes and wind gusts up to 70 mph.
More storms are possible later tonight as well.
If you live in an area that is under a weather watch, keep an eye on the forecast in case the weather turns more severe. A watch can quickly turn into a warning, and when that happens you should seek shelter immediately. Read more about the difference between a watch and a warning here.
