Cooler and drier into October

Frost and freeze concerns by the end of the week

The weather this week turns noticeably colder. Meanwhile, spotty showers in the forecast will do little to dent Minnesota’s recent dry trend.

Sunday night and Monday

Scattered light showers that made their way across Minnesota on Sunday are likely to diminish in the overnight and become much spottier. Under partly to mostly cloudy skies, overnight temperatures for most of the state will be in the 40s, which is seasonable for southern Minnesota, and slightly milder than average north. 

Winds stay breezier overnight Sunday, then turn even gustier again Monday afternoon, particularly in southern and western Minnesota, where gusts could top 30 mph at times.

weather graphic
Monday afternoon forecast wind gusts
National Weather Service

Continued instability means most of Minnesota has chances for spotty, light rain showers again Monday, especially in the afternoon and evening hours. Behind another cold front Sunday, and with winds from the northwest funneling in cooler air, most highs Monday will only be in the 50s, and parts of northern Minnesota might not make it out of the 40s.

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weather graphic
Monday high temperatures
National Weather Service

Cooler temperatures

A series of weak cold fronts will keep temperatures below average for the rest of the week.

weather graphic
Twin Cities forecast through Thursday
Weather.us

After most of Minnesota sees highs in the 50s Monday, some spots will briefly rebound into the 60s Tuesday and Wednesday.

Then the second half of the week turns even colder, with highs only in the 40s and 50s. 

This also means it is likely that lows toward the end of the week will dive into the 30s, so we will have to monitor for frost and freeze concerns.

Limited rainfall

The fronts and disturbances moving across the state also will bring occasional rain. However, despite chances for showers in the forecast most days this week, precipitation remains light. Much of the state can expect less than half an inch of rain through Saturday.  The state has had big rain deficit for September, so this means Minnesota will end September much drier than average.  The extended forecast through October 10 shows below-average rainfall is expected to continue through next week, too.

weather graphic
Precipitation outlook October 4 to 10
National Weather Service

Programming note

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