Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Above average Labor Day weekend forecast

Sunnier, milder forecast ahead for the last big 'summer' weekend

Sunset sailing on Lake Minnetonka
Sunset sailing on Lake Minnetonka
Paul Huttner | MPR News

Welcome to the unofficial last weekend of summer in Minnesota.

Labor Day weekend is the last summer hurrah for many Minnesotans. I’ve spent several Labor Day weekends cruising the Gull Lake chain as people soak up the fading early September sun and wave to each other passing through the channels. It just feels different. Labor Day weekend in Minnesota is bittersweet.

‘It’s been a good summer’

I hear that phrase often this time of year from Minnesotans. It’s often spoken with a mix of appreciation and melancholy. Maybe even some nostalgia.

I’ve heard from many of you who have appreciated our mostly bug-free, hottest meteorological summer on record in much of Minnesota. Some of you think it’s been too hot. To each their own.

The deepest drought since at least 1988 is certainly a big weather story this summer. Thankfully drought has eased the past two weeks in central and southern Minnesota.

As of 5:30 p.m., we’ve managed just 64 degrees in the Twin Cities Friday. That’s the coolest day in over three months since a high of 62 on May 30 Memorial Day weekend. Clockwork.

Above-average Labor Day weekend

Our Labor Day weekend brings a return to sunshine and milder temperatures. Highs this weekend recover into the 70s in most of Minnesota, with a few 60s up north.

Forecast high temperatures Sunday
Forecast high temperatures Sunday.
NOAA

A weather system spinning south from Canada may clip northeast Minnesota with some rain late Monday night into Tuesday. The Canadian model suggests some lighter rains across northeast Minnesota by Tuesday.

Canadian model precipitation output
Canadian model precipitation output into Tuesday.
Environment Canada via pivotal weather

The American GFS model is more aggressive with an inch or more possible. Let’s hope so for the fire zones.

Next week looks pleasant with highs mostly in the 70s.

Forecast high temperatures Thursday
Forecast high temperatures Thursday
NOAA

Hello September.