Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Periods of showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast today and tonight. Thunderstorms will favor portions of western Minnesota Thursday morning, then expand in coverage to include parts of eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin Thursday afternoon.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s High-Resolution Rapid-Refresh forecast model shows the potential rain pattern Thursday morning through Thursday evening:

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has parts of far southern Minnesota in an enhanced risk of severe weather (shaded orange in the left-hand panel below) Thursday and Thursday night:

Enhanced risk means that numerous severe thunderstorms are possible. The Twin Cities metro area is in a marginal risk (shaded dark green) of severe weather today and tonight, meaning an isolated severe thunderstorm is possible. Metro area thunderstorm chances increase this afternoon and continue into this evening.

The image in the right-hand panel above shows potential rain totals from Thursday through Saturday.

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 

Thursday highs will be in the 60s north and in the 70s south:

The Minnesota Pollution Control agency continues an air quality alert until 8 p.m. Friday for northeastern Minnesota and parts of north-central Minnesota:

Here are details of the alert, from the MPCA:

Sensitive groups whose health is affected by unhealthy air quality

This Updraft blog will be updated by 10 a.m. with a look at the weekend forecast.

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 need the rain, even if this is the first day of the Minnesota State Fair. We have your forecast details plus a look at severe weather chances.

Increasing thunderstorm chances today; updated severe weather outlook

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