Timing thunderstorms into Saturday morning
Scattered strong to severe storms favor northern and central Minnesota
Time to fire up the short-range forecast models.
Scattered thunderstorms are developing in an increasingly tropical air mass over Minnesota. Dew points have surged into the upper 60s to near 70 degrees across much of Minnesota.
The strongest storms will favor northern and central Minnesota overnight. Several short-range forecast models suggest a batch of thunderstorms could reach the Twin Cities early Saturday morning.
Severe risk
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
The highest severe risk favors northern and central Minnesota into early Saturday morning. NOAA’s Storm prediction center paints a slight risk zone across the area through 7 am Saturday. The Twin Cities lies on the southern edge of the slight risk zone.
Overnight thunder
There are differences in the short-range forecast models with the precise timing and coverage of overnight convection across Minnesota. But the basic theme is for strong storms to roll across northern and central Minnesota overnight, and possibly reach the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota early Saturday morning in the hours surrounding sunrise.
Here’s NOAA’s WRF model solution.
Watches and warnings
This is a dynamic situation and could evolve hour-to-hour overnight. Stay alert for possible severe weather watches and warnings into early Saturday morning.