Spring like weekend; heavy rain and snow potential by Tuesday
A shot at 60 this weekend. Rain and potentially heavy snow next week.
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Get ready for another free ride on the Minnesota weather roller coaster.
April-like weekend
This weekend brings April-like temperatures to Minnesota. Saturday brings gusty south winds. Wind gusts will reach or exceed 30 mph Saturday.
Highs will push the 60-degree mark both Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the Twin Cities, with widespread highs in the 50s across Minnesota.
Fire weather watch Saturday
Saturday’s high winds and dry air mass also bring a fire weather risk to northeast Minnesota. A fire weather watch is in effect.
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North St. Louis-Central St. Louis-Northern Aitkin-South Aitkin- Carlton and South St. Louis-Pine-
456 PM CDT Fri Mar 19 2021
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR PORTIONS OF EAST AND NORTHEAST MINNESOTA...
* AFFECTED AREA...In Minnesota, North St. Louis, Central St. Louis, Northern Aitkin, South Aitkin, Carlton and South St. Louis and Pine.
* WINDS...South 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 20 percent.
* IMPACTS...Rapid fire growth is possible especially with the strong winds and low relative humidities not too far above the surface. If a fire were to break through this inversion, it could exacerbate the spread potential and fire intensities.
Potent storm system next Tuesday
Next week brings a return of wet weather. A strong low-pressure system winds up and moves into Minnesota Tuesday. NOAA’s GFS model depicts the wrapped-up low spinning north with rain for most of southern Minnesota, and snow on the backside.
Rainfall totals likely reach 1 to 2 inches with this system next week across southern Minnesota.
Heavy snow potential
We’re going to have to watch next week’s storm track closely. Friday’s forecast models keep the rain-snow line just northwest of the Twin Cities for most of the storm, with some snow on the back end of the system. A band of heavy snow (6-plus inches) looks increasingly likely from western through central and northeast Minnesota.
A couple of forecast models bring significant snow into the Twin Cities Tuesday into Wednesday.
This may be a close call for significant snow in the Twin Cities. Stay tuned for updates this weekend through Monday!