A temperature rebound begins Thursday

After another cold start Thursday, temperatures finally start warming into the weekend.  Meanwhile, another round of rain targets the state Friday into Saturday.

Thursday’s forecast

With the exception of 40s in southeastern Minnesota, much of the state started in the 30s again Thursday, with some below freezing temperatures as far south as central Minnesota.

There have also been widespread areas of dense fog, particularly in central and southern Minnesota, that will burn off by mid-morning. Sunny skies prevail after the fog lifts.

The pattern that caused relentless cloud cover and scattered showers to southern, particularly southeastern, Minnesota the past few days is finally clearing out. There are still a few light showers lingering along the Iowa border through the morning, but skies dry and more sun returns by afternoon.

The sunny skies combined with winds from the southwest warm the state back into the 60s for highs. 

This is still below average but is much milder than most of the state has seen in the past couple days.

Rain returns Friday

Friday starts off sunny, but by afternoon a storm starts moving into southwestern Minnesota that brings statewide chances for showers and storms from Friday evening through most of Saturday.

Activity stays spottier in northern Minnesota and heaviest again in the southeastern corner of the state, where rain totals will likely top an inch of precipitation.

The wet weather clears out by Saturday evening, and widespread sunshine returns Sunday.

Warming temperatures

Temperatures continue to warm into early next week, with 60s through Saturday, then southern and western Minnesota seeing more 70s Sunday and Monday. 

Here is that forecast for the Twin Cities: 

Some weather models show the weather turning cooler again the second half of next week, so enjoy the return to the 70s while they last!

Programming note

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