Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Three-season weather porch: Huge temperature contrast across Minnesota

Strong warm front brings 30s to near 80 degrees today across Minnesota

Forecast high temperatures Monday
Forecast high temperatures Monday
Twin Cities National Weather Service

Pick your season, Minnesota.

A powerful springtime warm front is driving a huge temperature contrast across Minnesota Monday. Want 30s? Head to the North Shore and brace yourself against bracing easterly breezes off blowing in frigid Lake Superior.

Feel like summer? Enjoy a leisurely stroll in towns along the Interstate 90 corridor in southern Minnesota where temperatures will push into the 70s. If you’re really fleeing the need for heat, a trip to western Iowa or Omaha will get you closer to the 90-degree mark late Monday afternoon.

Spring is getting closer

A check of temperatures across the nation today shows the depth of the springy, even summery air mass in the central Plains. Temperatures in the 70s and 80s are building south of Minnesota.

Temperatures Monday afternoon
Temperatures Monday afternoon
Oklahoma Mesonet

Spotty thunderstorms

As the heat tries to ride north, it bumps into the residual cold air of early spring. That’s will continue to trigger some scattered showers and thunderstorms across Minnesota. Showers and some thunder favor central and northern Minnesota Monday. Scattered thunderstorms are likely across southern Minnesota Tuesday. The Twin Cities rides the edge of both waves.

NOAA’s NAM 3km resolution model shows clusters of thunderstorms marching across southern Minnesota Tuesday.

NOAA NAM 3 km model animation Tuesday
NOAA NAM 3 km model animation Tuesday
NOAA via tropical tidbits

A closer look shows some potentially strong to severe cells south of the Twin Cities along Interstate 35 around 3 p.m. Tuesday.

NOAA NAM 3 km model 3 pm Tuesday
NOAA NAM 3 km model 3 pm Tuesday
NOAA via pivotal weather

There is a marginal risk for severe weather from the Twin Cities south and east Tuesday.

70s this weekend

There are signs the warmth will finally nudge into Minnesota by this upcoming weekend.

Forecast high temperatures Saturday
Forecast high temperatures Saturday
NOAA