Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Back to the 50s for record highs. Rain by Thursday

The quick summary of our upcoming weather is that we will have three more very mild days turning into a rainy Thursday. That will be followed by a much cooler weekend. Here’s the forecast from the Twin Cities National Weather Service office:

Weather forecast for Twin Cities area
Weather forecast for Twin Cities area
Twin Cities National Weather Service office

Surging mild Pacific air flung our way that has been flooding California will bring record high temperatures to snow-free southern Minnesota.

Tuesday’s high temperatures should range from the upper 30s and low 40s in the north where there is snow cover to the low and mid-50s in the southern half of the state. The Twin Cities should climb to about 54 and set a new record for the date, topping the old record of 51.

Forecast high temperatures for Tuesday
Forecast high temperatures for Tuesday
National Weather Service

That southwest flow will also bring mid-level moisture, so look for increasing clouds again.

More of the same for Wednesday

Wednesday will be the warmest day of the week with the mild air spreading farther north. Highs will likely range from the low 40s north to the mid-50s south. The forecast high for the Twin Cities of 55 would break the old record high temperature of 53.

Forecast high temperatures for Wednesday
Forecast high temperatures for Wednesday
National Weather Service

Rain Wednesday night and Thursday

Rain from the California storm will cross the Rocky Mountains and lose some moisture and some of its dynamics on its way toward Minnesota. Rain showers should reach Minnesota Wednesday night and continue as scattered showers on Thursday.

Rainfall totals could be in the quarter- to half-inch range for much of the state. Parts of northern Minnesota might get more than a half inch while the southeastern corner might get less than a quarter inch.

Snow?

This spring-like storm will be mainly rain. But cooler air mixing into its backside is likely to change some of the rain into wet snow Thursday night and Friday, mainly in northern and central Minnesota. Slushy accumulations are possible in the northern half of the state.

The best chance of an inch or so of snow by 6 a.m. Friday seems to be in the northwestern part of the state.

Snowfall forecast through 6 a.m. Friday
Snowfall forecast through 6 a.m. Friday
Twin Cities National Weather Service office

Cooler for the weekend and into next week

The weekend and into next week will be cooler, but still warmer than normal.

Forecast high temperatures for Saturday
Forecast high temperatures for Saturday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Prediction Center