Rain at times this weekend, with many dry hours too

Periods of rain will continue through Saturday morning across much of central and southern Minnesota. Forecast models show that the steadiest rains Saturday afternoon and evening may be in southeastern Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin, with a few embedded thunderstorms too. Scattered showers will be possible elsewhere in Minnesota Saturday afternoon and evening, with an isolated thunderstorm chance.

You can hear updated weather information on the MPR network, and you’ll see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.

On Sunday, we may see two waves of showers and thunderstorms. The first wave spreads across much of central and southern Minnesota during the morning hours, then a second batch could develop late Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale (NAM) forecast model shows the potential rain pattern Sunday morning through Sunday evening:

Much of northwestern Minnesota may have a dry Memorial Day. The remainder of Minnesota plus western Wisconsin can expect some occasional showers on Memorial Day, with a chance of a thunderstorm.

Severe weather risk on Sunday

The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service shows a marginal risk of severe weather in portions of southern Minnesota Sunday and Sunday night. Marginal risk means that an isolated severe thunderstorm is possible. The marginal risk are is shaded dark green in this graphic that was posted by the Twin Cities NWS office:

Temperature trends

Our average Twin Cities high temperature is 71 degrees on May 23. Highs in the lower 70s are expected in the metro area this Saturday. Most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin will have Saturday highs in the 70s, with some 60s near Lake Superior.

Sunday highs will be mainly in the 70s:

A few spots in southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin could top 80.

Dew points in the sticky 60s are expected Sunday afternoon across the southern half of Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin:

Back to high temperatures, there will be a lot of 70s on Memorial Day:

Far northwestern Minnesota may see some upper 60s and the far southeast may top 80 degrees.

Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to reach the upper 70s Tuesday, followed by lower 80s Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

I hope that you have a relaxing and safe Memorial Day weekend.

Programming note

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.