Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Cool, wet, windy weekend; figuring the last frost

Scattered rain showers with snow possible in the Arrowhead

48 hour QPF
Forecast additional precipitation through 7 a.m. Sunday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Pivotal Weather

Look for occasional scattered showers Friday and Saturday with snow possible in the Arrowhead Saturday night into Sunday. Wind gusts will increase to over 40 mph Sunday. There are signs of warmer weather later next week.

Cool, wet, windy weekend

More rain fell overnight Thursday into Friday with the heaviest across central Minnesota.

24 hr prec
Estimated 24 hour precipitation through 3 a.m. Friday
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

We’ll see occasional scattered showers continue into Friday night.

fri precip 8
Forecast precipitation 7 a.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Saturday
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

Temperatures will be pretty steady in areas with showers, though southeastern Minnesota will pop into the 60s ahead of the main area of showers Friday afternoon.

We also have a flood watch across northeastern Minnesota through Sunday evening due to the possibility of significant rainfall on top of deep melting snow pack.

DLH flood watch
Flood watch through 7 p.m. Sunday
National Weather Service

There’s still plenty of snow for the North Shore, especially along the higher terrain.

snow cov
Snow cover along the North Shore
National Weather Service

Another round of showers is possible Saturday afternoon especially into Sunday for eastern Minnesota. In the Arrowhead, snow is possible.

weekend precip 8
Forecast precipitation 7 a.m. Saturday through 1 p.m. Sunday
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

Up to a few inches of new snow could fall in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness area.

MN snow
Forecast snowfall this weekend
National Weather Service

Searching for that warmer, drier pattern

We’re still on track for warmer weather for the middle and later part of next week, although just how warm is still a question. We should at least see normal temperatures, if not above.

8-14
8 to 14 day temperature outlook
NOAA Climate Prediction Center

Forecast high temperatures by Wednesday should be well into the 60s at least for the southern half of the state.

wed hi 8
Forecast highs Wednesday
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

Last frosts?

I’ve been getting a few questions from gardeners itching to get to work if the last frost or freeze is behind us, at least in the Twin Cities.

The median last frost, that is the date where half the time the last frost occurs (but also half the time it comes after) is late April for the Twin Cities and much of southern Minnesota.

median frost
Median last frost dates
Midwest Regional Climate Center

What we really like to examine are the dates of the latest 10 percent of frosts. That’s typically mid-May for the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota.

10 frost
Latest 10 percent frost date
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

After these next several days, where overnight lows will be in the 30s (but above freezing in the Twin Cities), it does look warmer and then we’re into the second week of May. I’d say, after Tuesday, we’re probably safe in the Twin Cities from frost and freezes this season.