Mild temperatures continue Sunday with areas of rain
Sunny but windswept Saturday
Saturday has been a sunny and breezy day with temperatures well above average. Most locations have warmed into the 50s. Some spots in northwestern and north central Minnesota have made the 60s. Hallock in the northwest corner reported 68 degrees with a south wind gusting to 36 mph at 5 p.m.
With warm, dry air in place and a gusty wind likely to continue, a Red Flag Warning for possible wildfire conditions remains in effect for Pine, Carlton and southern St. Louis Counties north of the metro area until 7 p.m. Saturday evening.
Rain developing on Sunday
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Sunday will be mild again, especially in the Twin Cities and southeastern parts of the state where highs should reach the low 60s. The coolest part will be northwestern Minnesota with highs in the low 50s.
Winds will be strong and gusty again on Sunday, but I think they will weaken during the afternoon as the pressure gradient relaxes.
A weak storm system from the west will spread rain into northwestern Minnesota Sunday and then eastward across the north during the day. Scattered showers are likely to pop over the southern half of the state during the afternoon and into the evening. The Twin Cities could see late-afternoon showers.
Soaker from the southwest
A much larger, stronger weather system from the Texas panhandle will push northward into southern Minnesota on Monday. Precipitation will reach all of the state except maybe the northwest corner on Tuesday and taper off and end on Wednesday.
While most of the precipitation will be in the form of rain, colder temperatures across northern and western Minnesota will likely change it over to wet snow or a rain/snow mix, depending on location. At this early time, an arc of snow is possible from west central to north central and northeastern Minnesota from Tuesday into Wednesday.
Rain is likely to arrive in the Twin Cities later on Monday and continue for Tuesday and Tuesday night, then mix with or even change to a little wet snow on Wednesday before ending late that day.
Total precipitation amounts might be helpful to groundwater. Parts of southwestern Minnesota could pick up around two inches of rain during the five days ending at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
The storm system will also bring in cooler temperatures more typical for this time of year for a few days. The Twin Cities could see highs just in the low to mid 40s on Wednesday and Thursday.