Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Highs in the summery 80s are expected across much of central and southern Minnesota plus west-central Wisconsin this Friday afternoon. We’ll return to more typical autumn temps on Saturday.

Saturday highs will be in the 50s north, with mainly 60s in central and southern Minnesota plus western Wisconsin:

A few spots in far southern Minnesota may top 70. The Twin Cities metro area will see Saturday afternoon highs in the mid 60s, which is slightly warmer than our average Oct. 10 high of 61.

Saturday afternoon wind gusts will be fairly low, in the 10-14 mph range:

Plotted values are in knots, with 9 knots equal to around 10 mph.

Back to temps, Sunday highs will range from the 60s in northeastern Minnesota to the lower 80s in far southwestern Minnesota:

Our Twin Cities metro area highs are expected to reach the mid-70s Sunday afternoon.

Winds will pick up on Sunday, with gusts over 20 mph in eastern Minnesota and over 35 mph in parts of western Minnesota:

Plotted values are in knots, with 18 knots equal to around 21 mph and 32 knots equal to around 37 mph.

I should mention that much higher gusts are possible near any thunderstorms that develop late Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening.

Areas of rain, with some embedded thunderstorms, are expected to spread across Minnesota and into western Wisconsin as we go through Sunday afternoon and into Sunday evening/night. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale (NAM) forecast model shows this potential rain pattern Sunday afternoon through the overnight hours of Sunday night:

The best chance of rain/thunder in the Twin Cities metro area will be from Sunday evening into the overnight hours, but an isolated late afternoon shower or storm cannot be ruled out. 

The NWS Storm Prediction Center shows a slight risk of severe weather Sunday afternoon and Sunday night in western Minnesota. Slight risk means that scattered severe thunderstorms are possible.

Here’s the NWS Twin Cities discussion of the Sunday afternoon/Sunday night severe weather potential:

The slight risk area is shaded yellow. Much of the Twin Cities metro area is in the marginal risk (shaded dark-green) category late Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. Marginal risk means that an isolated severe thunderstorm is possible.

You can hear updated weather information on the MPR 

, and you’ll see updated weather info on the MPR News 

We’re seeing some vibrant fall colors in the Twin Cities metro area right now. Weekend leaf-peeping will be good across much of southern Minnesota and parts of central Minnesota, with spottier fall colors to the north. Here’s the latest 

 from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources:

Keep in mind that all deciduous trees are included in the fall color report, not just maples.

The Wisconsin fall color report can be found 

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Ron Trenda

Author

We have a nice mix of temps in our weekend forecast, and some areas may see some much needed rain Sunday afternoon and evening. We have details on that, plus an updated fall color report.

Weekend forecast: Temps dip, then rebound; Sunday p.m. shower/thunder chance

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