Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

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As of 5 p.m., the Saturday rainfall total at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was 0.87 of an inch. That’s the highest single-day rainfall total at MSP airport since May 27.

Heavy rain Saturday afternoon prompted a flash flood warning that continues into Saturday evening in parts of La Crosse County, Monroe County and Vernon County of western Wisconsin:

Updates on the flood situation will be posted by the 

 office of the NWS. Winds aloft are fairly light, so slow-moving thunderstorms could cause additional areas of flooding Saturday evening and overnight.

Some additional areas of showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop Saturday evening and overnight Saturday night in portions of southern and central Minnesota and on into Wisconsin. A few  strong to severe thunderstorms are possible. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center shows a slight risk of severe weather Saturday evening and overnight Saturday night in roughly the southern third 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:

“This evening” refers to Saturday evening in the NWS graphic.

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 

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

All models don’t agree on the Sunday afternoon/evening rain chances. NOAA’s North American Mesoscale (NAM) forecast model brings a batch of showers and thunderstorms through the southern portion of the metro area Sunday afternoon:

We’ll see if the forecast models reach a consensus by Sunday.

Sunday highs reach the 80s in most areas, with 70s near Lake Superior:

Sunday dew points will be in the steamy 70s in the south, with sticky 60s to the north:

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

We saw some needed rain on Saturday, and we have the potential for additional showers and thunderstorms Saturday evening into Sunday. A severe thunderstorm is possible.

Thunderstorm chances continue into Sunday; a severe t-storm is possible

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