Dank Sunday statewide; steamy southern half Monday

The atmosphere will be performing some serious meteorological gymnastics over the next few days. Rain, drizzle, thunderstorms, possible severe storms and huge temperature and humidity swings are all headed our way.

Here’s the quick outlook for the Twin Cities area for Sunday through Wednesday:

Rain ending Sunday morning

Rain spread across much of Minnesota Saturday night. Much of the Twin Cities area picked up about a quarter to a third of an inch up to 8 a.m. My backyard rain gauge registered exactly 0.33 inches.

The rain has been moving to the northeast into a large part of northwestern Wisconsin.

Rainfall will end or at least taper off to drizzle from southwest to northeast across the Twin Cities area this morning.

Dank Sunday

After the morning rain clears out, look for a cloudy, rather breezy Sunday statewide with periods of drizzle and scattered showers. Thunderstorms should build from west to east Sunday afternoon and evening.

High temperatures will range from the mid 40s in the northwest to 60s in the south. The Twin Cities should have a high around 62 but it might not occur until Sunday evening.

Showers and thunderstorms will become rather widespread across northern and central Minnesota Sunday evening and through the night.

Severe weather is possible in Minnesota Sunday evening or overnight but the dynamics are rather weak. A marginal risk of severe weather has been posted for much of Minnesota. The best chances of severe weather will probably be in South Dakota.

Rain mainly north Monday; July-like in the south

Low pressure building in from the west will push a warm front well into Minnesota on Monday.

Showers and thunderstorms will continue for mainly northern Minnesota on Monday. Some of that area might get more than an inch of total rain.

Meanwhile, the southern half of Minnesota will feel the surge of very warm, extremely humid air from the south behind the warm front. High temperatures will reach the low to mid 80s with much mugginess for most of central to southern Minnesota. The Twin Cities will have a high temperature of about 84 with tropical dew points near 70.

Chances of severe weather Monday

A trailing cold front will plow into all that steamy air on Monday. Brief severe weather is possible Monday afternoon or evening after we reach our thermal peak for the day. A marginal risk has been posted for most of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Much cooler beginning Tuesday

Much cooler, drier Canadian air on the backside of this storm system will reach northwestern Minnesota on Monday and blow across the whole state by Tuesday and hang around.

The sweater weather season will begin.