Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Taste of late summer; 80s return Friday

October reality check arrives next week

Fall color under a blue summery sky at the Huttner Weather Lab.
Fall color under a blue summery sky at the Huttner Weather Lab.
Paul Huttner | MPR News

We’re getting a bonus second summer in Minnesota this year.

Temperatures continue to run warmer than average across most of Minnesota through this upcoming weekend.

Highs pushed into the 80s across southern and western Minnesota Tuesday. A weak cool front overnight dropped temperatures about 10 degrees across Minnesota Wednesday.

But temperatures are still running several degrees above average. Temperatures in the 70s reach as far north as the Twin Cities Wednesday afternoon. And that bubble of 80s lurks not far to the south of Minnesota.

Temperatures Wednesday afternoon
Temperatures Wednesday afternoon
Oklahoma Mesonet

80s again Friday

Our next October warm front kicks through Thursday night. By Friday afternoon, temperatures soar into the 80s once again across southern Minnesota, with 70s up north.

Forecast high temperatures Friday
Forecast high temperatures Friday
NOAA

The average highs and low for the Twin Cities on Friday are 61 and 42. So temperatures will run about 20 degrees warmer than average Friday.

We cool a bit this weekend, but temperatures in the 70s south and 60s north are still above average in most locations.

Forecast high temperatures Sunday
Forecast high temperatures Sunday
NOAA

Colder next week

The upper air pattern over Minnesota more closely resembles October next week. A dip in the jet stream pumps colder Canadian air, and a few showers south starting Monday.

Upper air forecast map for 7 pm October 12
Upper air forecast map for 7 p.m. Oct. 12.
NOAA

Highs will not climb out of the 50s across most of Minnesota by next Wednesday.

Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
Forecast high temperatures Wednesday, Oct. 14.
NOAA

There are signs of more 60s, and potentially 70s in about two weeks.

Stay tuned.