Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

A bright and breezy Sunday; Coolest north Monday morning

Elevated fire weather risk this afternoon

Today won’t be as warm as Saturday, but high temps will be well above normal.

The average Twin Cities high temperature is 56 degrees on April 14. Metro area highs are expected to reach the lower 70s Sunday afternoon. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a reading of 75 degrees somewhere in the metro area later this afternoon.

Sunday highs will be in the 70s across roughly the southern half of Minnesota plus west-central Wisconsin:

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Sunday forecast highs
National Weather Service

Much of northern Minnesota will have highs in the 60s, with lower 70s in portions of the Red River Valley and a few 50s in Cook County of northeastern Minnesota.

Winds gusts could top 20 mph in some areas Sunday afternoon:

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Forecast wind gusts 1 p.m. Sunday
National Weather Service

A red flag warning is posted from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday for portions of northwestern Minnesota and northeastern North Dakota:

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Red flag warning (magenta) from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday
National Weather Service

Here are details of the red flag warning:

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 312 AM CDT Sun Apr 14 2024 MNZ001-002-004-005-007-008-013>015-NDZ008-016-027-030-150100- /O.NEW.KFGF.FW.W.0004.240414T1700Z-240415T0100Z/ West Polk-Norman-Kittson-Roseau-West Marshall-East Marshall- Pennington-Red Lake-East Polk-Pembina-Eastern Walsh-Grand Forks- Traill- 312 AM CDT Sun Apr 14 2024 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE RED RIVER VALLEY IN NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND FAR NORTHWEST MINNESOTA... The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from noon today to 8 PM CDT this evening. * AFFECTED AREA...In Minnesota, West Polk, Norman, Kittson, Roseau, West Marshall, East Marshall, Pennington, Red Lake and East Polk. In North Dakota, Pembina, Eastern Walsh, Grand Forks and Traill. * WINDS...Northwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 18 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that ignite will spread rapidly and become difficult to control. 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.

Dry afternoon

Most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin will have a dry Sunday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale Forecast System model shows the potential precipitation pattern from 10 a.m. Sunday to 11 p.m. Sunday:

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Simulated radar from 10 a.m. Sunday to 11 p.m. Sunday
NOAA, via Tropicaltidbits.com

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR News network

Monday morning temps

Monday morning lows will dip into the 30s in roughly the northern third of Minnesota plus northwestern Wisconsin:

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Forecast lows Monday morning
National Weather Service

Milder lows are expected Tuesday morning, as clouds and rain return.

Update

A new Updraft will be posted around 10:40 a.m. today. It’ll include a look at the week ahead.

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.