Weekend weather: Quiet pattern, dry in most areas

I’ll get to the weekend forecast shortly, but let’s start with a Thursday forecast update.

Periods of rain showers are expected this Thursday afternoon and evening in much southern Minnesota plus the Twin Cities metro area and parts of western Wisconsin.

A mix of rain and snow is expected at times from central Minnesota into northern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, with that mix changing to mainly snow in parts of the north.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern Thursday afternoon and evening:

The Twin Cities metro area will see mainly periods of rain showers but a few stray late-day flakes can’t be ruled out.

Accumulating snow is possible in parts of northeastern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin Thursday and Thursday evening:

You can hear updated weather information on the MPR network, and you’ll see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.

Weekend temps

Our average Twin Cities high temperature is 40 degrees on March 14. We might only reach the upper 30s in the metro area this Saturday. Highs in the 30s are expected Saturday in the southern half of Minnesota plus western Wisconsin, with 20s in northern Minnesota:

Far northwestern Minnesota may only reach the teens.

It’ll be breezy Saturday, with afternoon wind chills ranging from single digits in the far northwest to lower 30s in the far southeast:

Sunday high temps will reach the 40s in the south, with mostly 30s in the north:

The weekend looks dry in most areas, but far northwestern Minnesota may see some showers late on Sunday.

Snow depths

Cross-country skiers, sledders, snowboarders and snowmobilers will be happy to hear that there’s still substantial snow cover in portions of northern Minnesota and far northern Wisconsin.

Here’s the latest snow depth analysis from NOAA’s National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center. (NOHRSC):

Portions of northeastern Minnesota still have over 20 inches of snow on the ground.

I hope that you have a good weekend, whatever your plans!