Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Cool and rainy Wednesday, then temperatures soar

More rain likely this weekend

Needed rain is moving across Minnesota Wednesday, with another chance for showers and storms over the weekend. Temperatures go from below average to many places seeing their first 80s of the year over the next week.

Rain Wednesday and Thursday

Under more cloud cover, and warmer southeast winds, most of Minnesota started off Wednesday mild, with temperatures in the 40s.  However, highs will still be 5 to 10 degrees below average, because under clouds and rain, temperatures will not warm much through the day. 

weather graphic
Wednesday high temperatures
National Weather Service

Rain showers have already moved across the western half of Minnesota as of 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, and showers will spread across most of the state by late morning. Isolated thunderstorms are possible near the Minnesota border. It will also be breezy during the afternoon, with most of Minnesota seeing wind gusts over 20 mph.

weather graphic
8:38 a.m. Wednesday radar
National Weather Service

The rain will become much spottier by Thursday, and the state will be dry again Friday. Rain totals will be lower, with most of the state expecting under one-quarter inch of precipitation, although northern Minnesota could see a few totals over one-half inch through Thursday. 

weather graphic
Forecast rain totals for Wednesday
Pivotal Weather

Because Thursday will bring less rain and more breaks of sunshine, highs will finally warm back into the 60s and 70s for most of the state.

More rain for the weekend

Friday will be dry and mostly sunny, but already by the afternoon more clouds will move across the state as the next weather system approaches.

Another round of showers and storms is likely starting Friday night, through Saturday, then winding down on Sunday. 

weather graphic
Forecast storm position Saturday night
Tropical Tidbits

There is still uncertainty on how much rain that storm will bring, but it looks like much of Minnesota could see at least a quarter inch of rain or more over the weekend.

80s by next week

After temperatures return closer to average on Thursday, they stay more seasonable through the weekend, with highs mostly in the 60s and 70s. Temperatures are likely to cool slightly on Sunday behind the weekend weather system, but they rebound right away by Monday.

Then temperatures soar for next week, with many of the highs 10 to 20 degrees above average.  Much of Minnesota will see the first 80s of the year.  Here is how that temperature trend looks for Brainerd, in central Minnesota, for the next seven days:

weather graphic
Temperature trend for Brainerd through Tuesday
National Weather Service

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:48 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.

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