Quiet start to the week, then rain chances ramp up; Thursday snow potential in the north
Two to three inches of rain possible by the end of this week
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We had window-rattling winds on Sunday.
Many locations in Minnesota had wind gusts in the 40 to 45 mph range Sunday afternoon. Some spots saw much higher gusts. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport clocked a 56 mph wind gust around 4 p.m., and there was a 48 mph gust at that same time at Holman Field Airport in St. Paul.
The strong low pressure system in southern Canada that brought us the gusty winds will shift eastward Sunday night. Winds will ease off in most areas overnight, but a wind advisory continues until 6 a.m. Monday along and near the North Shore of Lake Superior:
“Tonight” in the graphic above refers to Sunday night. A gale warning continues on Lake Superior until 8 a.m. Monday.
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Far northern Minnesota could see a few areas of light snow Sunday evening and overnight.
We have updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the Minnesota Public Radio News network, and on the MPR News live weather blog. You can check the MPR News interactive radar display here.
Duluth radar is back online
Duluth NWS radar went offline around 5 a.m. Sunday, but it is now back online:
Rain chances ramp up this week
Monday looks dry in most locations, then some areas of rain are expected to develop in Minnesota and western Wisconsin Tuesday and Tuesday evening. Our Twin Cities rain chances on Tuesday appear to be mainly Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday evening.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern from 4 a.m. Tuesday to 11 p.m. Tuesday:
Periods of rain are a good bet on Wednesday. On Thursday, parts of northern and west-central Minnesota may see a rain/snow mix and then mainly snow, with mainly rain elsewhere in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A few thunderstorms will also be possible Wednesday and Thursday.
NOAA’s Global Forecast System model shows the following precipitation pattern from 6 a.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Friday:
Other forecast models have differences on the timing and location of the potential snow this Thursday and Thursday night. We’ll have updates on the Thursday into Friday snow potential as we go through the week.
Meaningful precipitation totals
Some locations that have the most serious drought conditions will see 2 to 3 inches of rainfall this week, with the highest totals Tuesday night, Wednesday and Thursday:
It will be great to get some meaningful rain to recharge the soil moisture as we head into winter!
Temperature trends
Monday highs will be in the 40s in many areas, with 30s in northern and west-central Minnesota:
Monday afternoon wind gusts are expected to be light in most areas, but gusts over 20 mph are expected in far northeastern Minnesota:
Forecast wind gusts are in knots, with 10 knots equal to 11.5 mph.
Tuesday highs will reach the 50s in the south, with 40s north:
Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to reach the lower 50s on Tuesday, followed by mid 60s Wednesday and lower 60s on Thursday. Then it turns sharply colder, with a daytime high in the upper 30s on Friday.
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. Saturday and Sunday