Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Another soaker for most of Minnesota into Friday

1 to 3 inches likely in western Minnesota. Less rain east.

European model (ECMWF) rainfall forecast
European model (ECMWF) rainfall forecast.
ECMWF via pivotal weather

Rainy and cool. Two weather words I’ve had to dust off from the Weather Lab lexicon this week.

Our late-week rainmaker moves through Minnesota overnight into Friday. Much of western Minnesota has already picked up soaking rains as of this post time. Madison in western Minnesota logged 1.71 inches of rain already by around 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

NOAA’s NAM 3 km resolution model paints the band of light to moderate rain with heavier embedded thundershowers moving east across Minnesota between 7 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday.

NOAA HRRR model
NOAA HRRR model between 7 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday.
NOAA via tropical tidbits

Yes, there will likely be rain at some point during the Gophers vs. Ohio State football game Thursday evening. The heaviest, steadiest rains for the Twin Cites will arrive around and after midnight.

Heaviest rainfall in western Minnesota

The heaviest rainfall targets western Minnesota with this weather system. A wide swath of 1 to 3 inches is likely by Friday morning. Eastern Minnesota including the Twin Cities likely picks up 0.5 to 1 inch totals. Northeast Minnesota will likely see less rain, with totals less than 0.25 to 0.50 inch in most areas.

Here’s the European model rainfall output through Friday.

European model (ECMWF) rainfall forecast
European model (ECMWF) rainfall forecast.
ECMWF via pivotal weather

Above-average Labor Day weekend

The Labor Day weekend looks better than average across Minnesota. Some clouds may linger early Saturday, but sunny skies will grace most of Minnesota Sunday and Labor Day.

Highs will run in the 70s south to 60s north.

Forecast high temperatures Sunday
Forecast high temperatures Sunday.
NOAA

It should be a great weekend to get out and enjoy many of the activities that make Minnesota great.