Weekend weather: Warm and dry after light rain Friday

Light rain moves across Minnesota Friday, followed by a dry and mild weekend. Temperatures turn cooler most of next week, with more rain in the forecast Monday and Tuesday.

About 90 percent of Minnesota saw below average precipitation during April, so the rain on Friday and additional rain chances next week could be very beneficial for the state.

Friday’s forecast

A weather disturbance moving across Minnesota has already increased clouds and is bringing rain showers through the state as of Friday morning, especially for southwestern Minnesota. Scattered light rain showers and possibly a couple isolated storms will continue across the state through the day. 

Rain totals will remain low, with most places getting a tenth an inch or less and a few reports possible up to a quarter inch, particularly in northern Minnesota or in any areas that see thunderstorms.  

Any rain should clear out by late Friday. It will also be breezy Friday afternoon, with wind gusts in the teens and low 20 mph range. High temperatures Friday will be 5 to 10 degrees above average for most of the state, ranging from 60s in northern Minnesota to 80s in the southwest corner of the state.

A dry weekend

Minnesota will see mostly sunny, dry, and mild weather over the weekend. Saturday will be the warmer day, with 60s and 70s across the state. 

It will be windy again Saturday afternoon, and the combination of wind, warmth, and low humidity will lead to an elevated fire risk, especially for northeastern Minnesota.

A dry cold front passing through northern Minnesota late Saturday and the rest of the state Sunday will bring more clouds on Sunday. It will also bring northern Minnesota highs in the 50s while the rest of the state stays in the 60s and 70s.

Extended forecast

Behind Sunday’s cold front the cooler air moves in for the rest of the state on Monday.

Here is the Twin Cities forecast, showing the temperature drop between the weekend and Monday:

The rest of next week will then stay below average, with highs predominantly in the 50s and 60s. A storm also starts moving into the state with showers and storms Monday, then continues through Tuesday before winding down Wednesday. 

It carries the potential for a needed, soaking rain, especially late Monday into Tuesday. Right now, it looks like that storm could bring much of Minnesota one-half inch or more of rain. We’ll keep you posted as the storm approaches.

Programming note

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