Sunday warmth and sunshine; soaking rains Tuesday
Chilliest temps later in the week
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It’s great when pleasant weather occurs on a weekend. We’ll have plenty of Sunday sunshine as a high pressure system approaches.
Sunday highs will reach the 70s across roughly the southern half of Minnesota and in west-central Wisconsin. Much of northern Minnesota will have highs in the 60s, with lower 70s in portions of the Red River Valley and 50s in parts of Cook County of northeastern Minnesota.
Twin Cities metro area highs are expected to reach the lower to middle 70s. The average Twin Cities high temperature is 56 degrees on April 14.
Northwesterly winds could gust over 20 mph at times Sunday afternoon. A red flag warning is posted from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday in portions of northwestern Minnesota and northeastern North Dakota:
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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.
You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR News network.
Temperature trends
Monday highs will range from 50s in far northern Minnesota to 70s in the south:
Some spots in the Twin Cities metro area could touch 70 degrees.
Tuesday high temps will be in the 50s in many locations, with 60s in the far south:
Some spots in the Twin Cities metro area will touch 60 degrees on Tuesday. There will be some 40s near Lake Superior.
Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to be in the upper 50s on Wednesday, followed by lower 50s Thursday and upper 40s on Friday.
Below-normal temperatures are expected next weekend and into the start of the following week. Here’s the April 19 through April 23 temperature outlook from the NWS Climate Prediction Center:
Frost potential increases later this week
Far northern Minnesota could see some 30s early Monday morning, but milder temps are expected elsewhere in Minnesota.
Temps plunge later this week. Thursday morning lows will be in the 30s in many areas:
There will be a mix of 20s and 30s early Friday morning:
Keep in mind that official temperatures are measured 5 feet above the ground. When winds are light and skies are mostly clear, the temperature near the ground can be several degrees cooler than the official temp.
Check forecast updates later this week to see if you need to cover tender plants or bring potted plants indoors.
Soaking rains Tuesday and Tuesday night
Northern Minnesota has the best chance of scattered showers on Monday. A passing shower is possible elsewhere in Minnesota and in western Wisconsin Monday.
Periods of rain and some embedded thunderstorms are on tap for Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin Tuesday and Tuesday night. Some showers could linger into Wednesday. Forecast models show the potential for 1 to 2 inches of rain Tuesday into Wednesday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model shows the potential precipitation pattern from 1 a.m. Tuesday to 1 p.m. Wednesday:
Updated forecast information will be posted by the National Weather Service offices in the Twin Cities, Duluth, La Crosse, Wis., Sioux Falls, S.D. and Grand Forks, N.D.
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.