A ferocious line of storms tore through the Upper Midwest on April 28, 2025, pelting southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and northern Iowa with hail the size of baseballs and lightning that lit up the night like a strobe. The National Weather Service issued urgent warnings, flagging the potential for “several tornadoes, a few intense,” as the region braced for nature’s wrath.
In southern Minnesota, residents reported hail hammering rooftops, shattering car windshields, and blanketing lawns like a freak snowstorm. One storm chaser near Rochester described golf-ball-sized ice falling so thick it sounded like a drumroll on metal barns. The storms, fueled by a volatile mix of warm, moist air and a powerful cold front, churned across the region through late evening, keeping emergency crews on high alert.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center had flagged the area days earlier, noting conditions ripe for severe weather. By April 28, forecasters zeroed in on the Upper Midwest, warning of destructive winds up to 70 mph and a heightened tornado risk during the “magic hour” just after dusk. Rural communities, already battered by spring floods, scrambled to secure livestock and clear debris before the storms hit. In northern Iowa, schools canceled evening activities, and farmers rushed to shelter equipment as dark clouds loomed.
Lightning strikes sparked at least two small fires in western Wisconsin, though heavy rains quickly doused the flames. No injuries were reported by late evening, but power outages hit pockets of southern Minnesota, where downed lines left hundreds in the dark. The National Weather Service urged residents to stay indoors, avoid flooded roads, and keep weather radios handy.
The storms followed a pattern of intense spring weather across the Midwest. Just weeks earlier, on April 17, eastern Nebraska and western Iowa faced similar threats, with destructive hail and isolated tornadoes rattling communities from Lincoln to Omaha. Forecasters noted that the Upper Midwest’s flat terrain and clashing air masses make it a hotspot for such volatile systems this time of year.
As the storms moved eastward, warnings remained in effect for parts of western Wisconsin into the early hours of April 29. Meteorologists continued to monitor radar for signs of rotation, emphasizing that the tornado threat could persist overnight. Emergency shelters opened in several counties, and first responders stood ready.
Hail damage was reported across southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and northern Iowa. Power outages affected at least 1,200 customers in Minnesota. No tornadoes were confirmed by late April 28, but warnings stayed active into April 29.