Saturday warmth, with scattered thunderstorms at times

Lets start with the good news. Highs today reach the 70s across central and southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin:

Winds will be strong ahead of an approaching low pressure system, so wind advisories have been posted from west-central Minnesota through southern Minnesota:

Here are details of the wind advisory in southwestern Minnesota:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 515 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022 IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097- 098-SDZ039-040-054>056-061-062-066-067-071-231815- /O.CON.KFSD.WI.Y.0018.000000T0000Z-220424T0000Z/ Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O`Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee- Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson- Pipestone-Rock-Kingsbury-Brookings-Miner-Lake-Moody-McCook- Minnehaha-Turner-Union- 515 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...South winds 30 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. * WHERE...Portions of east central and southeast South Dakota, northwest and west central Iowa and southwest Minnesota. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal Nation. * WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Isolated stronger winds are possible near any thunderstorms. The strong winds will also lead to elevated fire danger. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

There is also a red flag warning for portions of southwestern Minnesota, where outdoor burning is not recommended:

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 327 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022 IAZ002-013-021-032-MNZ071-072-080-089-097-098-SDZ040-055-056-061- 065-068-231630- /O.NEW.KFSD.FW.W.0016.220423T1800Z-220424T0100Z/ Osceola-O`Brien-Cherokee-Ida-Lincoln-Lyon-Murray-Nobles-Pipestone- Rock-Brookings-Lake-Moody-McCook-Hutchinson-Bon Homme- 327 AM CDT Sat Apr 23 2022 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA...FAR SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...NORTHWEST IOWA AND EXTREME NORTHEAST NEBRASKA... The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 1 PM this afternoon to 8 PM CDT this evening. * AFFECTED AREA...In Iowa, Osceola, O`Brien, Cherokee and Ida. In Minnesota, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone and Rock. In South Dakota, Brookings, Lake, Moody, McCook, Hutchinson and Bon Homme. * WINDS...Southwest 30 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 25 to 35 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Severe weather outlook

Periods of thunderstorms are expected today and this evening. The NWS Storm Prediction Center shows a slight risk (shaded yellow) of severe weather Saturday and Saturday night in Minnesota and western Wisconsin:

Slight risk means that scattered severe thunderstorms are possible:

Parts of western and southern Minnesota have already seen strong to severe thunderstorms this morning. Be aware of which county you are in today and tonight, since severe weather warnings are issued for counties or portions of counties.

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the Minnesota Public Radio News network, and you can see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.

There are flood warnings and flood watches in effect today for portions of northwestern Minnesota:

Details on those watches and warnings can be found here.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.