Severe weather is possible as the heat returns
Minnesota sees another chance for needed rain over the weekend
Hotter weather returns through Thursday, along with a storm system that may bring severe weather. Seasonably warm weather settles in by the weekend, plus another chance for needed rain.
Wednesday and Thursday
Minnesota started off Wednesday with seasonable June lows again, with a few 40s in the Arrowhead, but the rest of the state in the 50s and lower 60s.
The rest of the day shoots back above average, thanks to winds from the south that could gust over 20 mph, especially in western Minnesota.
That warm wind flow combined with widespread sunshine pushes high temperatures back into the 80s for most of the state both Wednesday and Thursday, with a few 90s likely in western and southern Minnesota.
The southerly flow is ahead of a storm system that brings isolated showers and storms into the state by Wednesday evening and through the overnight.
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By Thursday, the associated cold front passes through most of state, but lingers in southern Minnesota with additional showers and storms.
There is a risk for severe weather with this system, with damaging winds and large hail as the primary threat, but an isolated tornado could also be possible.
That risk shifts from central and southern Minnesota Wednesday evening and overnight to southeastern Minnesota on Thursday.
Unfortunately, this weather system is not expected to bring much precipitation across the state, with most places forecast to see under one-tenth of an inch.
Southeastern Minnesota will likely see higher totals, though, as that area can expect storms to linger longer and be more widespread.
The heat finally breaks
Behind the system Thursday, cooler air returns, dropping highs into the 70s north and 80s south through the weekend.
On Friday, there could even be a couple highs only in the 60s for the northern border of Minnesota, thanks to a disturbance that brings that area more clouds and a chance for spotty showers.
Here is that forecast for the Twin Cities, showing the transition from the heat Thursday to more seasonable lower 80s by the weekend:
We also start next week with another storm that is poised to bring showers and storms across the state from Saturday night through early Monday.
Although the expected rainfall is still somewhat uncertain, it looks like that storm should bring higher precipitation totals than the storm Wednesday night into Thursday.
That system has even cooler air behind it and could drop highs into only the 60s and 70s by Monday. If those cooler temperatures verify, it would be the first time during all of this hot June that the entire state was below average.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.