Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Comfy weather through Friday

Rain chance up north Thursday afternoon, evening

It’ll be breezy Thursday, with afternoon wind gusts over 25 mph in many areas.

We’ve seen several windy days lately. I’ve highlighted the average wind speed at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for the first 10 days of June. The highlighted column on the right side of the graphic shows peak wind gusts each day:

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June 2020 weather data for MSP airport
National Weather Service

Sunday, Monday and Wednesday were quite windy. Our average wind speed so far this June is 10.4 mph, which is a bit above our typical June average of 9.5 mph.

Our average Twin Cities high temperature is 78 degrees this time of year. We’re expecting highs in the upper 70s Thursday afternoon in the Twin Cities metro area.

Much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin will top out in the 70s, with some 60s in far northern Minnesota and a few lower 80s in the far south. Dew points will be in the comfortable 40s.

Friday highs will be in the 70s in many areas, with 60s in northern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin:

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Friday forecast highs
National Weather Service

Southwestern Minnesota will top 80 degrees.

Friday dew points will be comfortable:

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Friday 1 p.m. forecast dew points
National Weather Service

Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to reach the lower 70s Saturday and upper 70s on Sunday. Temps start ramping up next week, with metro highs in the middle 80s Monday, followed by 90 Tuesday and mid 90s on Wednesday.

Thursday rain chances?

Scattered showers and a few embedded thunderstorms are possible in northern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin Thursday afternoon and evening.

Parts of east-central Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin may see an isolated shower or thunderstorm late Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s High Resolution Rapid-Refresh forecast model shows the potential rain pattern Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening:

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Simulated radar Thursday afternoon and evening
NOAA, via Tropicaltidbits.com

The northeastern portion of the Twin Cities metro area may see an isolated shower/thunderstorm 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.