A summery stretch

Are you ready for summer?

Our average high temp is 74 degrees this time of year in the Twin Cities metro area. We're looking at Friday and Saturday highs in the upper 80s in the Twin Cities!

Highs in the 80s will be common across most of Minnesota Friday afternoon, and some spots in southwestern Minnesota could reach the lower 90s.

Highs in the 70s are expected along the north shore of Lake Superior.

Dew point temperatures will climb into the upper 50s to lower 60s in much of southern and central Minnesota Friday afternoon, so it'll feel very summery.

Weekend highs

Saturday will be warm in most areas, with highs in the 80s:

Parts of northeastern Minnesota will top out in the 70s.

The 70s will expand to cover much of northern Minnesota on Sunday, with 80s in central and southern Minnesota:

Twin Cities metro area highs are expected to be in the upper 70s Monday through Wednesday of next week.

Rain chances

Some scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible in Minnesota from late Friday afternoon into Friday evening and overnight.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are also possible Saturday and Saturday night, especially in eastern Minnesota.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential rain pattern:

Some areas that look dry on the loop will probably see some showers and thunderstorms, but the loop shows the general pattern that is seen by the forecast model.

The color chart to the right of the loop refers to the strength of the signal that returns to the radar, not to the amount of rain.

On Sunday, there could be some scattered showers and an isolated thunderstorms in eastern Minnesota.

Severe weather outlook

The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service shows a marginal risk of severe weather in northern Minnesota and parts of central Minnesota Friday and Friday night:

A marginal risk means that an isolated severe thunderstorm is possible.

Eastern Minnesota has a marginal risk of severe weather Saturday and Saturday night, according to SPC:

Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and you can read about any watches and warnings in the MPR news live weather blog.

Crop update

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's weekly Minnesota Crop Progress & Condition report, which was issued on May 30th, had this update on our crops:

Corn planting in Minnesota is nearing completion, with 96 percent of the acreage planted.  Eighty-one percent of the corn crop had emerged, 5 days behind last year, but 3 days ahead of the five-year average.  Corn condition rated 68 percent good to excellent, down 14 percentage points from the previous week.  Soybean planting was 81 percent complete, 8 days behind last year, but 3 days ahead of average.  Thirty-nine percent of the soybean acreage had emerged, 5 days behind last year.

Small grain planting was wrapping up throughout the State. Spring wheat was 97 percent emerged, with 16 percent at or beyond the jointing stage.  Spring wheat condition rated 96 percent good to excellent. Oats were 87 percent emerged, with 50 percent of the oat acreage at or beyond the jointing state.

Oat condition rated 76 percent good to excellent.  The barley crop was 88 percent emerged and 19 percent jointing, with condition rated 93 percent good to excellent.  Dry edible beans were 49 percent planted, 4 days behind average.  Thirteen percent of the dry edible bean crop had emerged.  Sunflowers were 85 percent planted, 2 days behind last year, but 12 days ahead of average. Potato planting was 93 percent complete.

I'll bet that the warm weather of next few days is a welcome change for farmers, after the cool weather of last week.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public radio at 7:49 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and at 7:35 a.m. and 9:35 a.m. each Saturday and Sunday.