Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Taste of May: Highs in the 70s Wednesday and this weekend

Much warmer air ahead for Minnesota

Blue sky above the Weather Lab
Blue sky sits above the Weather Lab on Wednesday.
Paul Huttner | MPR News

Ah, spring.

Spring in Minnesota is usually two steps forward and one step back. We took a couple of big steps forward on this lovely Wednesday. A robin’s egg blue sky and Maylike temperatures feel good out there.

Highs Wednesday will ease into the lower 70s in southern Minnesota with mainly 60s north.

Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Thursday brings our next step back. A blustery wind, cooler temperatures and a few spotty showers will make it feel more like April.

Forecast high temperatures Thursday
Forecast high temperatures Thursday
NOAA

Warm weekend ahead

For once, the timing of weather maps and typical life for most Minnesotans syncs up this weekend. Friday brings a breezy blue sky with highs in the low 60s south and 50s north.

Forecast high temperatures Friday
Forecast high temperatures Friday
NOAA

Even warmer air feeds into Minnesota this weekend. Saturday brings highs in the 70s, and I could see a few bank thermometers flashing 80 degrees in southwestern Minnesota towns like Luverne, Pipestone and Redwood Falls.

Forecast high temperatures Saturday
Forecast high temperatures Saturday
NOAA

Sunday brings more mild air to our region.

Forecast high temperatures Sunday
Forecast high temperatures Sunday
NOAA

The forecast models suggest a widespread spring rain system that could cover most of Minnesota next Tuesday.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model cranks out an inch of rain, while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System lays down a couple of inches for parts of Minnesota once again.

NOAA GFS precipitation output
Global Forecast System precipitation output next Tuesday
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

We’re doing a good job of digging our way out of drought this spring.

Stay tuned.