Above normal temperatures extend into the weekend; rain likely Saturday

Clouds thickened overnight halting a fall in the temperature.  This morning readings were around 40 degrees in southwest Minnesota.

Some of the clouds were captured on the radar. But at 6 a.m. no precipitation was reported at surface observing sites in Minnesota.

A weak cool front will wiggle through central Minnesota today. It will be a few degrees cooler in most locations of central Minnesota than yesterday.

I'm still working out the details on precipitation for the weekend.  Rain is likely on Saturday.  Models are attempting to develop a strong low pressure system on Sunday that may track south of Minnesota.  This would leave us with rain changing over to snow.

But wait, things begin to change as Sunday progresses!

Colder air begins to dive south as the low pressure strengthens and moves northeast.

By Sunday evening the European model predicts a strong wind gradient from the retreating low dumping much colder air into our neck of the woods. Wind chill readings could be sub zero on Monday morning.

The last couple of computer runs have been consistent with rain on Saturday, but location of the heaviest rainfall for the weekend remains difficult to pinpoint at this time. Note the dry slot in South Dakota into southwest Minnesota.

Looking at the precipitation potential for Sunday into Tuesday morning  has forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration painting generous liquid precipitation in much of the eastern half of the country.

You'll want to stay tuned as Paul Huttner takes over this afternoon.

Paul will be discussing climate change with Kerri Miller on the Daily Circuit this morning.