Sunday shower chances, with thunder also possible in southern Minn.; cool week ahead

After the summery heat of yesterday, it feels like spring in most areas today.

Highs in the 70s are expected Sunday afternoon in most of Minnesota, with some 80s in far southeastern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin. Coolest highs will be in northeastern Minnesota, with 60s and even some 50s near Lake Superior.

Sunday afternoon shower chances

The steadiest rains at mid-morning were from Willmar to St. Cloud to near Mora, Minnesota. That area of rain is spreading northeastward. Additional showers are expected to develop today in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Southern Minnesota could also see a few scattered thunderstorms later this afternoon.

The thunderstorm chance continues Sunday evening, especially from southern Minnesota into Wisconsin. The Twin Cities metro area could see a thunderstorm too. The NWS Storm Prediction Center shows a marginal risk (shaded dark green) of severe weather Sunday afternoon into Sunday night for parts of south-central and southeastern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s High Resolution Rapid-Refresh (HRRR) forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern for Sunday evening through Monday afternoon:

It’ll rain in some areas that look dry in the forecast loop, but the HRRR model illustrates the general rain pattern.

Note that occasional showers linger in eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Monday. Our Monday rain chance in the Twin Cities metro area would be highest in the morning.

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR network, and you’ll see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.

Temperature trends

Monday highs will reach the 60s in the metro area and southeastern Minnesota plus west-central Wisconsin, with mainly 50s elsewhere in Minnesota:

There’ll be some 40s near Lake Superior.

Wind gusts of 20-28 mph are expected in many areas Monday:

Plotted forecast gusts are in knots, with 20 knots equal to 23 mph.

Back to temperatures, Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to be around 60 on Tuesday, followed by lower 60s Wednesday and around 60 on Thursday and Friday

We could have below-normal temps next weekend into the following week. The NWS Climate Prediction Center shows a slight tendency for below-normal temps in our neck of the woods from May 9 through May 15:

Weather nugget

Our official Twin Cities high has reached the 80s twice this year; April 5 and yesterday. Last year we didn’t hit see our first 80s in the Twin Cities until May 26.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.