Cooler and windy Wednesday, with even colder weather on the way

Temperatures drop back to average Wednesday, then cool even more Thursday, while chances for periodic rain and snow persist into the weekend.

Wednesday’s forecast

Despite Tuesday’s warm weather, a cold front was moving across the state, and a second cold front moved through the state Wednesday morning, both bringing colder air into Minnesota.

Highs Wednesday will only make it into the 40s and 50s, which is a 10- to 15-degree drop from Tuesday’s highs, but it will feel even colder because of the wind.

Sustained wind speeds will be in the teens and 20s, with gusts exceeding 30 and 40 mph, especially in the afternoon.

A wind advisory is in effect for southwestern Minnesota through the afternoon, for wind gusts that could reach 45 mph.

The second cold front is south of the state as of Wednesday morning, bringing southern Minnesota areas of light rain and an occasional isolated thunderstorm.

That precipitation should clear out in the afternoon as the front moves out, but as the rain exits southern Minnesota, more light rain showers are likely to move into northern Minnesota by the afternoon.

The rain will switch to light snow for northern Minnesota overnight, but any accumulation should stay under an inch.

Thursday’s forecast

Colder air continues to funnel into Minnesota Thursday, dropping temperatures even more. Highs will be in the 30s and 40s, putting most of the state at least 5 to 10 degrees below average.

Although not as windy as Wednesday, winds Thursday could still gust over 20 or 30 mph. The colder air and wind means wind chills Thursday morning could feel like only teens and 20s.

Skies will be mostly cloudy, and it will stay relatively dry, with only a slight chance for a sprinkle or flurries, particularly for the southern edge of Minnesota or in the Arrowhead.

Extended forecast

Temperatures slowly warm back to average by Saturday, but the brief warm-up is short-lived. By Sunday, temperatures are likely to drop again and the extended outlook for next week has the state running mostly below average, with many of the highs only in the 30s and 40s.

Here is that temperature trend for the Twin Cities (highs in red and lows in blue) showing Thursday’s colder air, the brief warmup, then the colder air returning:

Precipitation chances also stay active, with a couple more disturbances bringing occasional light rain and light snow chances through the weekend. Then a more potent storm clips the state Sunday, which brings rain and snow chances back across most of Minnesota.

That system also brings back windier weather and is the storm responsible for dropping temperatures again. We’ll keep you updated as that storm approaches, but be prepared that Easter plans might be better off indoors.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:48 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.