Warmer temperatures Sunday and into next week, with 80s in sight
Radar upgrade continues in the Twin Cities
The Twin Cities metro area endured highs in the 60s Wednesday through Friday, so Saturday’s mid 70s felt nice. The warm-up will continue on Sunday.
Temperature trends
We haven’t seen 80 degrees or warmer at MSP airport since August 20th. That sub-80 streak will probably end Sunday afternoon.
Sunday highs are expected to reach the 80s in southern Minnesota and parts of central Minnesota, with mainly 70s elsewhere:
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A few spots up along the North Shore of Lake Superior may see highs in the 60s.
Many areas will reach the 80s on Monday:
Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to reach the mid 80s Tuesday, followed by lower 80s Wednesday and upper 70s Thursday and Friday.
Rain chances
Scattered showers and a few embedded thunderstorms are possible in Minnesota and western Wisconsin Saturday evening and overnight Saturday night, with an isolated severe thunderstorm possible. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center shows a marginal risk of severe weather Saturday evening and overnight Saturday night for roughly the southeastern half of Minnesota plus western Wisconsin. The NWS Storm Prediction Center will update the severe weather outlook Saturday evening and overnight.
As always, updated weather information can be heard on the MPR network, and you’ll also see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.
The ground is saturated in many parts of southern Minnesota, and additional rain could cause flash flooding in some areas. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch from 7 p.m. this Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday for parts of southeastern Minnesota. The watch includes Dodge, Olmsted, Mower, Fillmore, and Houston counties. Rochester and Austin are a couple of cities in the flash flood watch.
The daylight hours of Sunday are looking dry in most areas.
Tropical Storm Humberto
Tropical Storm Humberto is moving slowly away from the northwestern Bahamas. The National Hurricane Center forecasts this track for the center of Humberto over the next few days:
According to the Saturday evening update from the National Hurricane Center:
Humberto is moving toward the north-northwest near 7 mph (11 km/h), and this general motion with a gradual turn to the north is expected during the next day or so. A sharp turn to the northeast is expected on Monday. On the forecast track, the center of Humberto should continue to move away from the northwestern Bahamas tonight, and then move well offshore of the east coast of Florida this weekend and early next week. Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Humberto is forecast to become a hurricane by Sunday night or early Monday well east of the east coast of Florida.
Radar upgrade
The National Weather Service weather radar in Chanhassen, Minnesota remains out of service as a major upgrade continues.
Some real progress was made on Saturday:
According to the NWS:
The radar pedestal is necessary for antenna rotation and positioning to capture data in all directions.
The current pedestal being replaced is more than 20 years old, and this refurbishment is necessary to keep the radar functioning for another 20 years or more.
Fall colors
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has issued a fall color report that shows spotty color in parts of Minnesota:
A Wisconsin fall color report is also available.
It’s very early in our fall color season. Our beautiful fall colors should really start to dazzle in two to three weeks.
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 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.