Rain showers expand east Wednesday. Expect a mild end to the week

Showers will affect much of the state today, though the bulk of the rainfall will be in central and southwest Minnesota. Clouds linger into Thursday followed by milder air Friday. 

Rain for Wednesday followed by a mild stretch Friday and Saturday 

Rain showers are already falling in portions of western Minnesota early Wednesday. Up to 1 inch of rain has fallen through mid morning from Jackson through Windom and Redwood Falls, estimated by radar. Those showers will slowly expand north and east through the day. Far eastern Minnesota will likely stay dry through at least the morning hours.

The bulk of the rainfall totals will be in central, south-central and southwest Minnesota where some lucky spots will pick up a half-inch to 1 inch of rain. There will be a sharp cut off in rain totals east as drier air and upper level forcing diminishes.

Cloud cover will linger into much of Thursday, though there will be some breaks of brief sunshine. Highs will be mostly in the 40s Thursday afternoon with light winds.

We’re in for a mild couple days Friday and Saturday with the most sunshine on Friday. Both days will see highs in the 50s across much of central and southern Minnesota.

Next week is likely to bring more active weather with a system brushing northern Minnesota Sunday and a more significant system Monday night into Tuesday for central and southern Minnesota. Colder air and the potential for snow mixing with rain is possible to end next week.