Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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The rain today is probably messing up the outdoor plans of some people, but we’re in a drought this summer. We’ve needed a soaking rain for quite a while. 

The Saturday rainfall total through 10 a.m. was 0.67 of an inch at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. That’s already the highest daily total at MSP airport since 0.70 of an inch on June 27. Once the Saturday total passes 0.70, it’ll be the highest daily total at MSP airport since the 0.98 rainfall tally on May 27. 

A slow-moving low pressure system will keep periods of showers and thunderstorms in the forecast this Saturday and Saturday night, especially in central and southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

A few thunderstorms could become severe today and tonight. The NWS Storm Prediction Center shows a slight risk of severe weather Saturday and Saturday night in roughly the southern half of Minnesota plus portions of western Wisconsin. The slight risk area is shaded yellow in this severe weather discussion from the Twin Cities office of the NWS:

Slight risk means that scattered severe thunderstorms are possible. An isolated severe thunderstorm is possible in the area that’s shaded dark-green. The severe weather outlook is updated several times each day by the 

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the Minnesota Public Radio 

, and you can see updated weather info on the MPR News 

Areas of showers and thunderstorms will linger into Sunday morning from southern and east-central Minnesota into western Wisconsin. By Sunday afternoon, the best chance of showers and t-storms will be in southeastern Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s High-Resolution Rapid-Refresh (HRRR) forecast model shows the potential rainfall pattern Sunday afternoon and evening:

The Storm Prediction Center shows a marginal risk of severe weather (shaded dark-green) Sunday and Sunday night in southeastern Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin:

Highs in the 80s are expected this Saturday in much of western Minnesota and parts of southern Minnesota, with mainly 70s elsewhere. There could be a few 60s near Lake Superior. The Twin Cities metro area could touch 80 or so.

There will be some 70s in northeastern Minnesota and some 60s near Lake Superior.

Sunday dew points will be in the steamy 70s in southern Minnesota, with sticky 60s elsewhere:

Back to forecast highs, Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to reach the upper 80s Monday, then around 90 Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by mid 80s Thursday and lower 80s on Friday.

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.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Ron Trenda

Author

It’s great to talk about rain when we’re in a drought. We have updated details on our weekend rain opportunities, including the possibility of severe weather.

Periods of rain and thunder Saturday and Saturday night; a severe storm is possible

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