Record warmth ends as rain returns

Following record warmth Sunday and likely Monday, temperatures cool as Minnesota heads into a much wetter pattern through the end of the week. That wet weather includes a risk for severe storms Monday evening.

Monday’s forecast

Following the very warm weather Sunday, where much of the state made it into the 70s, Minnesota started mild Monday, from a few 30s north to widespread 50s south.

Much of Minnesota just missed record highs on Sunday, although a couple of spots broke records, including Rochester, which at 81 Sunday beat the previous April 4 record of 77.

With forecast highs ranging from 60s and 70s north to 80s south, more record highs are likely to be set on Monday, especially in southern Minnesota. 

This includes the Twin Cities, where the current April 5 record is 80. 

By evening, the same storm that funneled in the warmer air starts pushing a cold front across the state. This brings showers, storms, and even a severe weather risk from Monday evening into the early overnight period. 

Especially in southwestern through central Minnesota, there may damaging winds and large hail with some of the thunderstorms.

Soaking rain returns

Monday’s line of showers and storms should move through quickly and clears by the wee hours of Tuesday morning. However, already by the Tuesday morning commute, another storm system will start bringing spotty showers into southern Minnesota. 

Those showers and isolated storms spread north through the rest of Tuesday. For the Twin Cities, the current timing of that rain is to begin Tuesday evening. This is ahead of a large storm system that passes south of Minnesota Wednesday. 

While the location of the storm should keep most of the severe weather risk south of Minnesota, it will push heavier rain into the state. 

Wednesday will be very soggy, and rain should continue Thursday as well. However, by Thursday, as the storm moves out, the rain is expected to be somewhat lighter with a few more dry breaks.

This extended rain event brings a needed soaking to the state, with much of eastern and southern Minnesota expected to see one to 2 inches of rainfall through Thursday. 

Amounts will be lighter the farther northwest you go, due to the projected track of the storm and rain.

Even behind that storm, a few showers and storms are possible Friday and through the weekend, meaning Minnesota sees rain chances every day during the upcoming week.

The cold front Monday night and the subsequent cloudy and rainy weather also end the warm trend. 

Although temperatures still stay slightly above average, they turn much more seasonable for early April. Highs Tuesday through the end of the week will be mostly in the 50s and 60s south and 40s and 50s north.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.