Severe thunderstorm watch in effect in Freeborn County until 4 a.m.

Published 10:13 pm Thursday, July 9, 2009

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for Freeborn County until 4 a.m. Friday.

The National Weather service reported a severe thunderstorm warning eight miles southwest of Swea City, Iowa moving east at 35 mph. Quarter-sized hail was reported shortly after 11 p.m. in Swea City. The storm is capable of producing 60 mph wind.

The watch includes 12 counties in Minnesota including Faribault, Waseca and Blue Earth.

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As of 9:51 p.m., there was a severe thunderstorm warning in Dickinson and Emmet counties in northwest Iowa, and in northern Clay and Polo Alto counties. That warning expired shortly after 10 p.m.

There is also a flash flood warning in effect for Jackson, Nobles and Cottonwood counties in Minnesota, and Clay, O’Brien, Osceola and Dickinson counties in Iowa until midnight.

At 9:43 p.m., radar for the National Weather Service indicated a strong line of thunderstorms with heavy rainfall moving across that area. One to three inches of rain could fall in some areas.