Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Temperatures remain below average, with a warm exception Saturday

Sunday brings the return of rainy weather

Temperatures climb into the 70s and 80s the first half of the weekend, then wet weather returns Sunday, pushing temperatures back below average.

Friday’s forecast

Under clear skies and calm winds, northern Minnesota had a chilly start Friday morning, with temperatures in the 20s. The southern half of the state saw light winds and a few more clouds overnight, which kept morning lows a little milder, in the 30s and 40s.

Friday is the last day of April, and for a month that had a lot of temperature extremes, with many days far above or well below average, the state ends the month on a seasonable note.
Highs range from the upper 50s north to 60s south and west.

weather graphic
Friday high temperatures
National Weather Service

For perspective, the International Falls average high for April 30 is 59 and for the Twin Cities it is 65, so most of the highs Friday are expected to be within a couple degrees of those averages. 

Although skies stay predominantly sunny for most of the state, a disturbance brings northern Minnesota a few more clouds by the afternoon, and light rain chances during the evening. 

weather graphic
Forecast weather conditions Friday evening
Tropical Tidbits

It will also bring gustier winds to northwestern Minnesota by the afternoon and elevate the fire risk. 

Weekend weather

Ahead of a storm that impacts Minnesota Sunday, much warmer weather filters across the state on Saturday. Almost the entire state should make it into the 70s, with 80s in southern and western Minnesota.

By Sunday, that storm brings in widespread cloud cover back across the state, along with chances for showers and storms, especially southeast.

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Forecast precipitation Sunday evening
National Weather Service

Heavy rain is not expected, except isolated higher amounts with any thunderstorms, and much of the state will see under one-tenth of an inch.

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Forecast rainfall totals through Sunday night
Pivotal Weather

The grayer, wetter weather already cools Minnesota back into the 60s and low 70s Sunday, although that is still slightly above average.

Extended forecast

Temperatures tumble even more Monday as the precipitation departs, putting the state back slightly below average and into the 50s and low 60s, with similar highs on Tuesday. Here are the forecast highs for the Twin Cities showing the big change from Saturday through the early part of next week:

weather graphic
Twin Cities forecast high temperatures through Tuesday
National Weather Service

The trend of temperatures running a few degrees below average looks likely to continue much of the first week of May.

Programming note 

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Monday through Friday.