Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Rain favors the southern half of Minnesota this weekend; summery next week

A much-needed soaking rain, but on the weekend this time.

Canadian model precipitation output this weekend
Canadian model precipitation output this weekend
Environment Canada via pivotal weather

They say timing is everything. That may be true in life, and in weather. If Minnesotans could control the weather, sunny glorious days like Friday would fall on the weekend. All rain or snow systems scheduled would likely be scheduled for Tuesday. Night.

Glorious Friday

It’s worth noting that Friday’s weather is about as good as it gets for much of Minnesota. Temperatures pushed 60 degrees all the way to the Canadian border Friday afternoon. Note the absence of blue hues across Minnesota on the temperature map. Finally.

Temperatures Friday afternoon
Temperatures Friday afternoon
Oklahoma Mesonet

Wet weekend south

It’s a tale of two forecasts across Minnesota this weekend. Northern Minnesota will stay dry, and even see some sunshine. The rain this weekend favors the southern half of Minnesota.

A low-pressure system tracks across UIowa Saturday. Rain spreads from southwest Minnesota Saturday morning. The Twin Cities area could see a few showers as early as midday Saturday, but the steadiest and heaviest rains favor later Saturday through Sunday morning.

NOAA’s GFS model shows the system’s progression.

NOAA GFS model this weekend
NOAA GFS model this weekend
NOAA via tropical tidbits

A good soaking

Most forecast models crank out widespread 1 to 2-inch rainfall totals across southern Minnesota with our inbound weekend system. Most also favor rainfall totals between .50” and 1” across the Twin Cities area. The heaviest rainfall totals favor the southern Twin Cities.

Canadian model precipitation output this weekend
Canadian model precipitation output this weekend
Environment Canada via pivotal weather

Summery next week

The season’s warmest air mass so far blows into Minnesota next week. Forecast model shave backed off the notion of 90s for Minnesota, but highs in the 80s still look likely by next Wednesday and Thursday.

Temperature forecast for Twin Cities
Temperature forecast for Twin Cities
NOAA via Weather Bell

Thursday looks like the warmest day next week. It will feel more July than May.

Canadian model temperature output Thursday May 21
Canadian model temperature output Thursday May 21
Environment Canada via tropical tidbits

Monday and Tuesday still look comfortable with dew points int he 50s. But dew points may reach the sticky 60s by the middle of next week.