Rain into the weekend, then mostly sunny next week

A slow-moving storm brings rain across portions of Minnesota through much of the weekend, then sunny and mild weather prevails next week. 

Friday’s forecast

Much like Thursday, the weather pattern Friday finds Minnesota with low pressure on the western side of the state, and that lower pressure is trapped between high pressure areas over the Northern Plains and Great Lakes.

This pattern, especially the strong high pressure to the east, essentially blocks advancement of the low pressure, and means the moisture is very slow to move east.

Therefore, most of the rain Friday in Minnesota will be in a corridor from the southwest to the northeast.

There will be occasional thunderstorms, but they are not expected to be severe.

Although there could be some stray activity during Friday afternoon, the main area of rain is not likely to make it to southeastern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, until Friday evening.

With much of the state under clouds overnight or in a warmer flow ahead of the low pressure, most of Minnesota started very mild for the first day of October. Morning lows were in the 60s with just a few 50s north. Average lows this time of year are in the 30s and 40s, with the Twin Cities at 47 degrees.

Southeastern Minnesota is still in a warmer wind pattern ahead of the low pressure and could see a little more sunshine early in the day, making it the one spot where 80s are still likely. The rest of Minnesota will be near 70 for highs.

Extended forecast

The low pressure continues its slow trek east on Saturday, with some clearing in western Minnesota by late day, while the eastern half of the state continues to see scattered showers and storms. Even on Sunday, there could be a few isolated showers still along the eastern edge of the state, while sunny skies return to the rest of Minnesota.

By Monday, widespread sunshine returns, and most of next week currently looks predominantly dry and sunny.

For temperatures, the few places still clinging to the 80s on Friday join the rest of Minnesota in cooler weather over the weekend.  By Saturday and also on Sunday, the entire state will see highs near 70, ranging from upper 60s north to low 70s south.

Here is that forecast for the Twin Cities:

Next week is shaping up to be a very pleasant fall week, with not only the sunshine, but mild temperatures. Highs stay near 70 most days in southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, with a few more 60s south.  

This is 5 to 15 degrees above average for early October!

Programming note

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