Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Warm, humid Thursday with strong to severe storms

Beautiful Friday through the holiday weekend

spc update
Severe weather outlook for Thursday into Thursday evening
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm Prediction Center, via Iowa State University

The second cold front of the week will push warm, humid air ahead of it and touch off strong to severe storms later Thursday. Behind it will flow comfortable, cooler air for Friday.  

Very warm, humid Thursday ahead of strong to severe storms

The second cool front of the week is pushing warm, humid air out ahead of it for Thursday. We’ll see afternoon highs well into the 80s across southern Minnesota. Dew points will also be pretty humid, into the low 70s for southern Minnesota.

thu hi 8a
Forecast highs Thursday
National Weather Service

Spotty morning thunderstorms Thursday will largely fizzle out by midday making for a mix of clouds and sun.

As things heat up, we’ll see thunderstorms develop ahead of the front stretching from south to north in western Minnesota by mid-afternoon. Those storms will sweep east through the late afternoon and evening hours.

thu prec 8a
Forecast simulated radar 8 a.m. Thursday through midnight
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

Storms that develop could become strong to severe with damaging wind gusts and large hail. An isolated tornado can’t be ruled out. There’s a slight risk (level 2 of 5) of severe storms forecast central and southern Minnesota.

spc 4 panel
A breakdown of severe weather threats Thursday
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

While we could see a couple isolated tornadoes, the bigger threats will be from damaging wind gusts and large hail. Here’s a look at one particular forecast model’s wind gust projection through midnight:

winds
High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model forecast wind gusts
NOAA, via WeatherBELL Analytics

Behind the front, northwest winds will blow in cooler and much drier air, making for a gorgeous Friday and holiday weekend. The humid air will move east and dew points in the 50s will settle in for Friday.

dews THU-FRI 8a
Forecast dew points 7 a.m. Thursday through 12 p.m. Friday
College of DuPage weather lab

Highs Friday will be mostly in the mid-70s to near 80 degrees but with dew points in the 50s. 

fri hi 7
Forecast highs Friday
National Weather Service

A third cool front sweeps in — rather quietly — Saturday night, dropping temperatures even more. Highs Sunday and Monday will range from just the 60s in northern Minnesota to the low to mid-70s south. Mostly dry weather persists into next week.

fcst
Twin Cities area forecast through Sunday
National Weather Service