Windy and wet today, 70s again next week?

There are times of the year when we look for signals on the weather maps. The Bermuda high shifting west to bring that first big heat wave of summer. That first big fall cold front. The first winter storm spinning out of the Rockies.

In spring, we watch for southwest flow. Warmth. Humidity. Rain, thunder and severe weather. The biggest question in my inbox these days?

"When it it going to warm up again, Paul?"

I have good news in the extended forecast for those of you looking for warmer weather by next week. First we slog through a few more days of cool windy damp early spring weather. The weekend forecast looks better than it did a few days ago.

Hang in there.

Scattered April showers

We needed the rain. The landscape around Minnesota is turning lush Irish green after 1- to 3-inch-plus rainfall totals this week. Here's a look at observed rainfall across Minnesota for the past seven days from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

This is why your sump pump is working harder these days.

Another low-pressure system spins south of Minnesota today. Another arc of scattered rain pushes north into southern Minnesota later today, tonight and tomorrow.

Severe outbreak under-performs

Some good news on last night's severe outbreak. There were numerous reports of large hail and high winds, but relatively few tornadoes with just five preliminary tornado reports coming into NOAA's Storm Prediction Center. No major damage to cities from the potential long track tornado. Still, a busy night of severe reports across the central U.S. last night.

Weekend forecast improving?

The weekend is looking potentially better than it did earlier this week. Strengthening high pressure over the Great lakes may shove the next low pressure wave mostly south of Minnesota this weekend.

Friday should bring at least mixed sunshine. What looked like a washout weekend earlier this week may just be a few attempted spotty showers Saturday and Saturday night. Sun may break out in force Sunday. In fact, the chart below may still be too aggressive on rainfall this weekend for the metro.

Warmer next week

All signs point to a warming trend next week across Minnesota. The upper air pattern looks favorable for a more sustained southwest flow aloft. That should warm us up, and potentially brings some thunder by Mother's Day weekend.

Temperatures in the 60s return as early as Sunday, and we could see 70 degrees again by the middle of next week. Here's the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model output for next week for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center locks on to the warming trend across the northern U.S. next week.

NOAA's Global Forecast System 16-day outlook still favors a warm and potentially thundery outlook. A shot at 80 degrees on Mother's Day weekend?