Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Scattered rain and thunder, slight severe risk

The strongest storms likely late Thursday afternoon and evening.

Severe weather risk areas
Severe weather risk areas Thursday.
NOAA

We need some rain around these parts. And many of us will get some in the next 36 hours.

A slow-moving cool front will spark scattered rain and a few thunderstorms through Thursday. NOAA’s HRRR model is typical of most that show scattered showers through Wednesday night.

A more concentrated line of storms will likely develop late Thursday afternoon and evening along the front between Duluth and the Twin Cities then move into Wisconsin Thursday evening.

NOAA HRRR model
NOAA HRRR model between midnight and 7 p.m. Thursday.
NOAA via tropical tidbits

Severe risk

There is a marginal to slight severe risk over the next two days. A slight risk covers parts of southwest Minnesota Wednesday.

The slight risk zone shifts east into eastern Minnesota including the Twin Cities Thursday.

Severe weather risk areas
Severe weather risk areas Thursday.
NOAA

Overall rainfall looks patchy with this system. But a few spots could pick up an inch of rain. Here’s the European model rainfall output through Thursday.

European model (ECMWF) precipitation output
European model (ECMWF) precipitation output through Thursday.
ECMWF via pivotal weather

Temperatures will run in the 80s once again Thursday with 70s northwest.

Forecast high temperatures Thursday
Forecast high temperatures Thursday.
NOAA

Cooler weather ahead

A cold front will finally bring cooler temperatures to Minnesota by next week. There are rain chances over the weekend, but forecast models differ widely on rainfall timing and coverage. The best chance for rain appears to be Sunday night into Monday.

Highs early next week may be in the 60s across much of Minnesota! That will be a shock to the system after weeks of 80-degree warmth.

Forecast high temperatures Monday
Forecast high temperatures Monday.
NOAA

There are signs we will warm back into the 80s late next week.

Stay tuned.