The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Freeborn County.

It is in effect until 8 p.m.

As of 2:30 p.m., the tornado watch covered a wide segment of southwestern Minnesota, northwestern Iowa and southeastern South Dakota. In Minnesota, Freeborn, Steele and Rice counties are on the eastern edge of the watch area. The area extends as far west at Mitchell, S.D.

The National Weather Service notice says there is a slight risk of tornadoes for this afternoon and early evening, particularly along the Interstate 90 corridor.

“The main hazard will be large hail and damaging winds,” it says.

The thunderstorms are being generated by a low pressure system moving east across the region Wednesday.