Saturday warmth, Sunday thunder
It's back to the 70s this afternoon.
We're talking about high temps here, not bell bottoms and disco music.
Much of Minnesota will see Saturday afternoon highs in the 70s, and some spots in southwestern Minnesota could top 80.
North-central and northeastern Minnesota will see 60s, with some 50s along the north shore of Lake Superior.
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If you're out on a picnic this afternoon, hang on to your paper plates, winds will be gusty.
The last time we topped 70 degrees in the Twin Cities metro area was on November 8.
Our average high temp this time of year is only 54 degrees in the Twin Cities.
Sunday 60s
Sunday will be a bit cooler than Saturday, with highs in the 60s:
Parts of northwestern Minnesota and areas near Lake Superior will top out in the 50s Sunday afternoon.
Get ready for a Monday cool down, with highs in the 40s over northern and central Minnesota. Southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities could see lower 50s Monday morning, then falling temps Monday afternoon.
Twin Cities highs return to the mid 50s Tuesday, and will rebound to around 60 for Wednesday through Friday.
Fire risk
There is an elevated risk of brushfires today across much of Minnesota due to gusty winds, warm temps and low humidity levels:
You can find check with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the latest information on Minnesota fire danger and burning restrictions.
Rain and thunder
A low pressure system is expected to track from northwestern Iowa through far southeastern Minnesota Sunday and Sunday night.
Periods of rain are expected Sunday into Monday over most of Minnesota. There's a good chance for a few thunderstorms over southern and central Minnesota too, mainly Sunday afternoon into Sunday night.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential rainfall pattern Sunday morning through Monday morning:
The color chart to the right of the loop refers to the strength of the signal returning to the radar, not inches of rain!
There is the potential for more than an inch of rain over much of southern and central Minnesota Sunday into Monday:
As you can see in the graphic above, the Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service has part of southern Minnesota in the slight risk category for severe weather Sunday and Sunday night.
The southern portion of the Twin Cities metro area has a marginal risk of severe weather Sunday and Sunday night, which indicates that an isolated severe thunderstorm is possible.
Check later forecasts, since a more northerly track of the low pressure system would spread the severe weather risk northward.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and at 7:35 and 9:35 a.m., plus 4:35 p.m., each Saturday and Sunday.