Rain chances are few amid a very dry September

Warmer than average weather continues for the rest of the week. Meanwhile, storms Wednesday evening into early Thursday will bring very needed rain to portions of Minnesota.

A dry September

With the exception of Houston county in southeastern Minnesota, the entire state has had a very dry September.

The Twin Cities has had less than one third its normal September rain, and for Duluth the situation is even more stark, only having forty-three hundredths of an inch through Sept. 22, about 14 percent of the average normal 3.08 inches. 

Northwestern and northeastern Minnesota have been hit the hardest by the dry weather, with some locations under 5 percent of average monthly precipitation. 

Wednesday and Thursday

Almost all of Minnesota stays sunny through Wednesday morning, and much of the state keeps sunny skies through the day. 

Highs Wednesday remain 10 to 20 degrees warmer than average for late September, with most of the state making it into the 80s and the Arrowhead in the 70s.

However, a cold front is already starting to push into the northwestern corner of the state. In the afternoon, more clouds, showers and storms will start to develop in northern Minnesota.

For the northeast and portions of east-central Minnesota, isolated storms could become severe with large hail and highs winds the risk. 

Overall, precipitation will be limited, but under stronger storms, some rain totals will go over one-half inch. 

Rain chances spread south and east overnight, with the most likely timing for the Twin Cities being the early morning hours Thursday. Any rain would be beneficial as Minnesota has had a very dry September so far.

Rain clears Thursday morning, but highs will be slightly cooler behind the front and in the 60s and 70s. That is still above average for this time of year.

Extended forecast

Temperatures rebound again Friday, with highs the 70s and 80s, but those will likely be our last 80s for a while. Another cold front dips temperature into the 60s and 70s again by Saturday.

Here is the Twin Cities forecast through Saturday:

More seasonable and noticeably colder highs in the 50s and 60s return next week.

Meanwhile, the rain chances stay somewhat limited. The cold front that dips temperatures starting Saturday could bring a few very spotty light showers or isolated storms Friday into Saturday.

It currently looks like Monday could bring a more widespread chance for needed rain across Minnesota.   

Programming note

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