More rain for Minnesota Thursday

Showers and storms continue to move across Minnesota Thursday, and another large temperature contrast sets-up with much milder weather southeast.

Thursday’s forecast

The storm that has been bringing Minnesota rain since Tuesday is still pushing wet weather across the state as of Thursday morning. 

Cloudy skies and all the moisture moderated temperatures again overnight, so most of the state is starting in the 40s, although there are a few 30s north and 50s southeast.

The low pressure of the storm is actually sitting right at the state’s southern border, and this is has been causing a more easterly wind flow in southeastern Minnesota, while the rest of the state has a more northerly flow. This storm position has kept southeastern Minnesota from seeing some of the more persistent rain, with even occasional breaks of sunshine. That slightly drier trend plus not having the cooler wind flow had southeastern Minnesota in the 70s on Wednesday, while much of the state was stuck in the 40s for highs. 

A similar temperature contrast sets up Thursday afternoon, with most of the state staying in the 40s all day, while just the southeastern corner of the state gets into the upper 60s.

Although the entire state will see bands of showers and storms through the day, it currently looks like the section of the state that can expect more persistent wet weather on Thursday will be the western side of Minnesota. That portion of the state can expect a half inch of rain or more through the day, which is very beneficial, because parts of the region are in drought conditions.

The rain continues again on Friday, but the weekend turns somewhat drier. That extended forecast will be updated around 9 a.m.

Programming note

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