Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Most of Minnesota sees sunny skies into the weekend

The Arrowhead can expect a a few more rain showers this week.

Minnesota faces gusty winds Tuesday that moves cooler air back across the state, but sunshine helps temperatures rebound by the end of the week.

Tuesday’s forecast

A cold front swept across Minnesota overnight, bringing showers and storms along with it, including a couple stronger storms in north-central Minnesota. Most rain amounts stayed well under a quarter-inch, although much of the Arrowhead saw higher amounts.

weather graphic
Forecast storm position Tuesday afternoon
National Weather Service

Now, as the front continues east, it has taken the precipitation along with it, except for in the Arrowhead, where isolated showers and storms could linger throughout the day. 

For the rest of the state, skies are clearing quickly behind the front and Tuesday will be mostly sunny.

Behind the cold front, windy conditions prevail Tuesday, with gusts that are likely to top 30 mph at times.

weather graphic
Tuesday forecast peak wind gusts
National Weather Service

Following a warm Monday, and with some cloud cover overnight as the showers and storms moved through, Tuesday morning was mild for early September, with lows in the 50s and 60s.

However, the winds from the northwest are pulling in cooler air, so highs will only make it into the 70s (60s for the Arrowhead), which is seasonable, but noticeably cooler than Monday.

weather graphic
Tuesday high temperatures
National Weather Service

Extended forecast

Although winds diminish by Wednesday, a persistent northerly flow continues to pull cooler air across the state. That means Wednesday is likely to be the coolest day of the week, with highs in the 60s north and low 70s south.

Sunshine and the return of a southerly flow by Friday bring late-week temperatures back above average, in the mid-70s and low 80s.  

Here is that forecast for the Twin Cities through Saturday:

weather graphic
Twin Cities forecast through Saturday
National Weather Service

Meanwhile, drier conditions prevail for most of the state through the end of the week.

The one exception is northern Minnesota, particularly the Arrowhead, where occasional showers or storms are possible through Wednesday and again Friday into Saturday.

This is a beneficial, as most of the Arrowhead is in extreme drought and could see a half-inch to an inch of rain through Saturday.

weather graphic
Rainfall forecast through Saturday
Pivotal Weather

The rain expected in northern Minnesota Friday and Saturday could dip far enough south for the Twin Cities to have a very isolated rain chance early Saturday.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:48 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.