Plenty of sunshine for the first week of fall

A cold front Friday provides limited moisture

Fall begins Wednesday afternoon, which is appropriate because Minnesota will be in the midst of very seasonable weather for much of the week ahead.

The exact time of the autumnal equinox will be 2:20 p.m. Wednesday. The equinoxes occur when the sun is over the equator, making our day and night periods “equal” at approximately 12 hours each.

weather graphic
Autumnal equinox
National Weather Service

Of course now, the daylight hours continue to get shorter until the winter solstice takes place Dec. 21.

Wednesday’s forecast

Under clear skies and light winds overnight, temperatures plunged across Minnesota for the final morning of summer.

Most of the state woke up in the 40s Wednesday, but portions of central and northeastern Minnesota saw 20s and 30s, and a number of spots there recorded temperatures below freezing.

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Temperatures rebound quickly during the day thanks to sunshine and southerly winds. Most of the state makes it at least into the upper 60s, and western Minnesota, where the warm wind pattern will be the most persistent, will see widespread 70s. 

weather graphic
Wednesday high temperatures
National Weather Service

This puts highs very close to average as we transition from summer to fall.

Extended forecast

Thanks to light southerly winds overnight Wednesday, Thursday begins slightly milder than Wednesday, with mostly places in the 40s and only a couple of 30s expected in the Arrowhead. Highs also nudge warmer, with most of the state in the 70s and plenty of sunshine.

Late Thursday, a cold front starts pushing into northwestern Minnesota that swings across the state Friday. The front does not have much moisture with it, but clouds and a few showers move through the state Friday as the front sweeps by.

weather graphic
Precipitation forecast Friday morning
National Weather Service

Little rainfall is expected and severe weather is unlikely.

The cooler air with the cold front drops high back into the 60s Friday and Saturday. A few showers may linger in the Arrowhead Saturday, but otherwise, skies clear quickly behind the front with plenty of sunshine for the weekend.

weather graphic
Twin Cities temperatures through Sunday
National Weather Service

Sunshine plus the return of southerly winds helps Minnesota make it back into the 70s Sunday.

Here are those forecast temperatures for the Twin Cities through the weekend:

That pleasant fall weather should continue for at least the first half of next week, with mostly sunny skies and highs predominantly in the 70s.

Programming note

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