Soaker: 2" to 5" of rain fell across southern Minnesota. Severe risk ahead Saturday

Finally.

Our well-advertised soaking rain event for central and southern Minnesota delivered this week.

Friday’s observed rainfall totals map shows two distinct bands of the heaviest rainfall. The first runs basically along the Highway 212 corridor from southwest Minnesota into the Twin Cities then along I-94 into Wisconsin. A second heavier band runs along and south of the I-90 corridor in southern Minnesota.

Rainfall totals across our region ran between 1 and 3 inches for most areas. A few locations from the Twin Cities to southern Minnesota have tallied 3 to 5 inches of rainfall over the past 24 hours.

Here’s a list of the highest rainfall totals in Minnesota.

Here are some additional select rainfall totals from around Minnesota.

• Cold Spring 2.06”

• MSP Airport 2.12”

• Excelsior, South Saint Paul 2.5”

• Redwood Falls 2.51”

• Chanhassen 2.65”

• St. Paul Airport 2.75”

• Robbinsdale 3.19”

• New Brighton 3.46”

• Woodbury 3.59”

• Hudson 4.11”

Enhanced severe risk Saturday

Look for scattered showers and thunderstorms across southern Minnesota overnight. Scattered rain is also moving across parts of northern Minnesota. More abundant rainfall Saturday night into Sunday looks likely to produce about an inch of rain across much of northern Minnesota this weekend.

Saturday brings an enhanced risk for severe storms across most of southern Minnesota including the Twin Cities.

Strong storms are likely to develop in western Minnesota Saturday afternoon and race east toward the Twin Cities by late Saturday afternoon into Saturday evening.

NOAA’s NAM 3 km resolution model is typical of solutions that push a possible squall-line across Minnesota with damaging wind potential.

Stay aware of possible severe weather watches and warnings Saturday afternoon and evening. You won’t want to be caught outdoors or on your favorite lake as these storms blow in.