Next storm chance Thursday; wetter pattern brings soaking rain next 2 weeks

Minnesota’s active spring weather pattern is ready to bring multiple waves of rain and possible thunderstorms over the next two weeks.

We’ve already broken the drought across most of our region. Now some areas that still need rain may get a good soaking through the end of April.

In the meantime, we enjoy a beautiful spring day Wednesday. Look for plenty of sunshine and more docile winds for a change. Highs Wednesday will reach the 60s across much of southern Minnesota with 50s north.

Thursday brings milder south breezes and scattered rain and thunderstorms.

On the map below, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s FV3 model shows widespread rain in the north. In the south there is the potential for a few rain and thunder cells in the late morning and midday hours.

A better chance for stronger cells arrives with a cold front late Thursday afternoon and evening. The forecast model loop below runs between 7 a.m.. and 7 p.m. Thursday.

Rainfall totals between one-half inch and 1 inch look likely with this system into Friday morning.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center lays out a marginal severe risk across southern Minnesota Thursday just south of the Twin Cities area. Based on Tuesday’s forecast models, I suspect that risk zone may be moved north into the greater Twin Cities area in the coming days.

Temperatures Thursday will approach 70 degrees in the south.

Wetter pattern emerging

Forecast models are cranking out about one or two storms per week for the Upper Midwest over the next couple weeks. The American, Canadian and European models crank out 2 to 4 inches of rain for much of the Upper Midwest during that stretch.

Here’s another look at the European model precipitation output for the next 10 days:

Keep the umbrella handy.