Mild weather continues through the weekend

The forecast remains mild and dry through most of the weekend, then a storm early next week brings widespread rain and cooler weather.

Thursday’s forecast

Under high pressure, clear skies, and light winds, Minnesota started seasonably cool Thursday, with 30s and a few 20s north, and 40s south.

Thanks to widespread sunshine and dry skies, afternoon temperatures will be slightly above average, ranging from 50s north to a few 70s in the southwestern corner of the state. 

Winds stay light much of the day, but western Minnesota gets a little breezier in the afternoon. 

Dry and mild until Sunday

By Friday afternoon, breezy warm winds out of the south and west plus continued sunny skies send temperatures soaring back into the 70s and 80s.

This puts most of the state about 20 degrees above average.

A dry cold front moves through late Friday, returning highs Saturday to more 50s for northern Minnesota, and 60s for most of the state. Sunday warms again, with much of the state in the 70s. 

Rain finally returns

By Sunday afternoon scattered showers start moving across the state ahead of a storm that is forecast to bring widespread showers and a few storms Sunday night through Monday.  

Most of the state has been very dry since the start of September, so rain with this storm will be beneficial and could top 1 inch in some areas.

Behind that storm, colder air returns, and next week will be noticeably cooler, although the expected highs in the 50s and 60s are much more seasonable for October than the warmth currently in Minnesota.

Programming note

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