Above-normal temps; several rain opportunities this week

Summery dew points later this week

Most of us will have many hours of dry weather this Sunday.

There could be some scattered showers and an isolated t-storm this afternoon/evening in far southern Minnesota. Far northern Minnesota could see a few scattered showers at times. An isolated shower or thunderstorm is possible elsewhere in Minnesota, plus western Wisconsin, later this afternoon and this evening.

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.

Sunday afternoon highs will be mainly in the 70s, with a few lower 80s in northwestern Minnesota and some 60s near Lake Superior.

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Rain chances ramp up by midweek

Monday rain chances will be highest in far southern Minnesota, with dry weather elsewhere. By late Tuesday and into Wednesday our rain chances increase.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale (NAM) forecast model shows the potential rain pattern from Tuesday evening through Wednesday afternoon:

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Simulated radar Tuesday evening through Friday afternoon
NOAA, via Tropicaltidbits.com

Periods of rain are likely in Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Thursday and Friday too. We can use the rain!

Temperature trends

Our average Twin Cities high temp is 70 degrees on May 17. We could touch 80 Monday afternoon. Monday highs reach at least the 70s in most areas, with 80s in northwestern and north-central Minnesota:

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Monday forecast highs
National Weather Service

Some spots in west-central Wisconsin could top 80.

Monday afternoon wind gusts will be in the 12-18 mph range in most areas:

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Monday 1 p.m. forecast wind gusts
National Weather Service

Plotted gusts are in knots, with 15 knots equal to around 17 mph. Gusts over 20 mph are possible in northwestern Minnesota and parts of the southwest.

Back to temperatures, Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to reach the upper 70s Tuesday and Wednesday, then around 80 on Thursday and Friday. Dew points will be in the 60s Thursday and Friday, so it’ll feel summery.

Above-normal high temps are also a good bet next weekend into the start of the following week. The NWS Climate Prediction Center shows a tendency for above-normal temps in Minnesota and Wisconsin from May 21 through May 25:

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Temperature outlook May 21 through May 25
NWS Climate Prediction Center

Can it snow?

We occasionally get asked if it can still snow this time of year.

There isn’t any snow in our forecast, but you can impress your friends with this weather nugget: The latest measurable spring snowfall in official Twin Cities weather records was on May 24, 1925. It was just one-tenth of an inch, but I’ll bet that the flakes confused a few robins!