Gorgeous again on Friday; storms likely on Saturday
What a perfect summer day we have been enjoying this Thursday. High pressure from the Canadian prairies — the same type of weather feature that whacks us with frigid temperatures in winter — treated us to high temperatures mainly in the 70s and dry dew points in the 40s and low 50s. The refreshing northwest breeze has been the cherry on the weather cupcake.
And it has looked so pretty from the geostationary weather satellite, showing just fields of fair weather cumulus (cumulus humilis) clouds:
A fine Friday for Minnesota
The Canadian high pressure will hang around for one more day on Friday.
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Temperatures will bump up a few degrees. Humidities will remain low. Clouds will increase gradually from the west, but the state will remain rain-free during the daylight hours. Winds will be light as the center of the high pressure will be nearby.
The Twin Cities should have a high temperature in the low 80s.
A potent atmospheric short wave will track across the Dakotas on Friday. Some storms could become severe to our west, but general non-severe thunderstorms are indicated for Minnesota Friday night.
Storms into the weekend
The stable pattern over our state will begin to break down as the weekend approaches and our protective high pressure slides off to the east.
Periods of scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely from Friday night through Saturday. Some storms could be strong, mainly across southernmost Minnesota.
Here is the outlook for the Duluth and surrounding areas through Saturday:
Sunny Sunday
Sunday looks as bright as a shiny penny and should be the better day of the weekend for most of us. Look for dry skies and seasonable temperatures.
Next week looks rather rainy
Periods of instability are likely for much of next week. Couple that with diurnal solar forcing and you can expect periods of showers and thunderstorms from time to time.
It will get started Sunday night when showers and storms are likely to break out around the state. Repeated forcing will keep generating showers and storms through Tuesday. Some storms might become strong.
Additional periods of showers and thunderstorms are likely to be scattered around the state from Wednesday through Friday.