Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Thursday stays rainy, with severe weather possible

Following a very mild morning, highs will be in the 70s

With a flow of wet weather directly over Minnesota Thursday, the entire state can expect periods of showers and storms throughout the day, and some storms are expected to become severe.

Thursday’s forecast

A pattern of moisture flowing directly up from the Gulf of Mexico already brought increasing showers and storms Wednesday, and Thursday is likely to be even wetter for more of Minnesota. 

Already as of 7 a.m., there are scattered rain showers around the state, especially in northern Minnesota.

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6:40 a.m. Thursday radar
National Weather Service
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Marginal severe risk area Thursday
Storm Prediction Center

As the day progresses, a few thunderstorms are also forecast to develop, and some of them are likely to be strong. Large hail and highs winds are the primary threat, but isolated tornadoes are also possible. 

Most of Minnesota is under a “marginal” risk area Thursday (shown in dark green), due to this possibility.

Meanwhile, the southerly wind flow associate with the current pattern keeps temperatures mild. Morning lows are well above average in the 60s, and although the state does not warm much due to the moisture and cloud cover, highs in the 70s are still slightly above average for mid-May. 

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Thursday high temperatures
National Weather Service

It remains humid throughout the day, even during breaks in the rain.

Although the pattern stays wet, we start seeing more breaks in the rain as we head into the weekend. 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.