Summery Sunday, with strong or severe thunderstorms possible in some areas

Scattered thunderstorms are possible this Sunday morning in northeastern Minnesota. Areas of showers/t-storms are also expected to develop over southern, central and northeastern Minnesota plus western Wisconsin as we go through Sunday afternoon and evening. Computer model info shows that the Twin Cities metro area could see an isolated thunderstorm toward mid-afternoon, then our chance of thunderstorms in the metro area ramps up from late Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening.

Some strong to severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday afternoon and evening. The NWS Storm Prediction Center shows a slight risk of severe weather in southern Minnesota and the southwestern part of the Twin Cities metro area Sunday and Sunday night, meaning that scattered severe thunderstorms are possible. Here’s the Twin Cities NWS depiction of the risk area:

The dark-green shaded area, which includes the remainder of the Twin Cities metro plus central Minnesota and western Wisconsin, has a marginal risk of severe weather. Marginal risk means that an isolated severe thunderstorm is possible.

In the Twin Cities metro area, our severe weather risk will tend to be highest late Sunday afternoon and early Sunday evening.

Here’s the Duluth NWS depiction of the severe weather risk in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin:

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

Summery today, then cooler on Monday

Many spots in the Twin Cities metro area could top out in the mid 80s this afternoon. Sunday highs will reach the 80s in most of southern and central Minnesota plus western Wisconsin, with 70s in far northern Minnesota. Dewpoints will be in the 50s with some lower 60s in the south. 

Highs will be mainly in the 70s on Monday:

Dew points in the 50s will be common:

Monday afternoon wind gusts of 14 to18 mph are possible:

Plotted values are in knots, with 14 knots equal to 16 mph.

Any rain Monday?

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible Monday morning, and the rain chance lingers in southeastern Minnesota Monday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s High Resolution Rapid-Refresh (HRRR) forecast model shows the potential rain pattern on Monday:

The HRRR model also shows a few scattered showers popping up in northwestern Minnesota Monday afternoon.

Temps recover later this week

Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to reach the mid 70s on Tuesday, followed by upper 70s Wednesday and lower 80s Thursday and Friday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible each day, but we’ll also have many dry hours each day.

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.