Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Most of Minnesota enjoyed highs in the 60s and 70s last Saturday, and there was plenty of sunshine. This Saturday is cooler, with rain and snow chances in many areas.

Saturday afternoon highs will be in the 50s across much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Northwestern Minnesota may see some 40s and parts of southern Minnesota will top out in the 60s. Some spots in the Twin Cities metro area could reach the lower 60s. Our average Twin Cities high temp is 68 degrees this time of year.

A low-pressure system will spread precipitation across much of Minnesota and into Wisconsin from Saturday afternoon into Saturday night. It’ll bring rain to some areas and a mix of rain and snow to other areas. There’s expected to be a swath of accumulating snow from northwestern Minnesota through central Minnesota and on into northwestern Wisconsin.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale (NAM) forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning:

Temperatures in the lowest couple thousand feet of the atmosphere are borderline for the rain/snow cutoff, so pay more attention to the precipitation pattern than the exact location of the rain/snow line. It’ll rain or snow in some areas that look dry in the NAM loop.

At this point, it looks like the Twin Cities metro area will see some showers at times Saturday afternoon and early Saturday evening, with an isolated thunderstorm also possible.  The rain may be followed a rain/snow mix in the metro area after sunset and into the overnight hours. Some grassy areas in the metro could see a coating of snow overnight.

The main swath of accumulating snow Saturday afternoon through the overnight hours of Saturday night is expected to be in parts of northern and central Minnesota and western Wisconsin:

Here’s closer look at possible snow totals in northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota: 

You can hear updated weather information on the MPR 

, and you’ll see updated weather info on the MPR News 

It’ll be a chilly and breezy Mother’s Day in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Sunday morning lows will be mainly in the lower 30s, with some 20s to the north:

Sunday highs are expected to stay in the 40s in most areas:

A few spots in the Twin Cities metro area may touch 50.

Winds will be gusting over 20 mph on Sunday:

Plotted gusts are in knots, with 20 knots equal to 23 mph.

We’ll have a cool start to the week, then temps slowly recover. Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to reach the mid 50s on Monday, followed by upper 50s Tuesday and around 60 on Wednesday. We could top out in the upper 60s on Thursday and lower 70s on Friday. The best chance of rain in the coming work week is Wednesday, but there’ll also be a chance of a shower or t-storm on Thursday.

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Some of us will see rain showers t times this Saturday afternoon and evening, parts of Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin may see a mix of rain and snow. We have all the details, plus a look at Mother’s Day and the week ahead.

Some showers at times today, with flakes or a mix to the north; breezy and cool on Mother's Day

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