A lovely Easter weekend has arrived

Easter was on April 12 last year. We celebrated it with a snowstorm that dropped about half a foot of wet snow on the Twin Cities. No such “luck” this year.

Instead, we will get to enjoy the other side of the weather coin. Warm air has arrived, the sun is doing its job and the wind has stopped shaking the leafless trees.

Balmy temperatures

Saturday’s afternoon high temperatures will range from around 60 in northeastern Minnesota to some low 70s in the southwestern part of the state. The Twin Cities should reach about 70 on a day with an average high of 51.

Dew points remain in the dry 20s, so the fire danger will continue. But a much lighter wind than we have had for much of the week will minimize the spreading of any wildfires.

Sunday will be even warmer for most of us with lots of 70s. The Twin Cities should warm to around 75. Southwestern Minnesota could easily warm into the low 80s. Northwestern Minnesota is likely to cool a few degrees from Saturday’s highs. And the North Shore will be distinctly chillier as a south wind blows in from Lake Superior. Grand Marais and Two Harbors will have highs in the low 50s.

Wet weather next week

Monday is likely to bring highs in the mid or upper 70s to the Twin Cities. But Monday will also be a transition day to mark the start of a rather wet week.

A weather system with showers and thunderstorms will arrive from the southwest on Monday. Some thunderstorms could become severe Monday afternoon or evening.

Then a slow-moving storm will arrive with periods of rain and maybe a few thunderstorms from Tuesday through Thursday. A slow soaker will be quite welcome for most of the state.

Adding up all the rain for the upcoming week might bring totals of an inch or two for much of southern and central Minnesota. Lesser amounts are likely in the north.

Turning cooler, but not cold

Cooler air along with the clouds and rain will hold our temperatures down closer to April normals by later in the week.