Weekend rain targets Minnesota's extreme drought areas
Highs turn even warmer before dropping into the 60s next week
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Southern Minnesota sees a few showers Thursday, then a much more potent storm targets northern Minnesota with heavy rain over the weekend
Thursday’s forecast
Minnesota started the day Thursday with areas of fog again. There was predominantly lighter fog in the southwestern corner of the state. The thickest fog was again found near Lake Superior. A dense fog advisory is in effect along the North Shore until 10 a.m.
Our wind pattern is still from the southeast, which kept the state very mild overnight for October. Most of the state began the day at least in the 50s, with widespread 60s south. This is 10 to 20 degrees above average for much of Minnesota.
Highs remain warm too, with 70s for all but portions of the Arrowhead.
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The southeast winds drew more moisture across Minnesota Wednesday, increasing clouds across the eastern half of the state.
For Thursday, that same flow is forecast to draw in a few light showers from a storm far south of Minnesota.
Because of the location of that storm, showers are most likely to occur in southern Minnesota or along the eastern edge of the state.
Any rain that falls is forecast to have very limited accumulation, mostly less than one-tenth of an inch.
A rainier pattern
On Friday, a few more showers and storms start to move into Minnesota ahead of a storm that will track directly across Minnesota over the weekend, with the low pressure center currently forecast over northern Minnesota Saturday night.
Because of the timing and track of the storm, showers and storms are possible in the state from Friday through Sunday, with some of the heaviest rain Saturday evening and overnight.
The activity will be more persistent north, becoming spottier as you head south.
Because of this, much of northern Minnesota can expect 1 to 2 inches of rain or more, while southern Minnesota is forecast to see rain totals predominantly less than one-quarter inch.
This will be a very beneficial rain in northern Minnesota because that portion of the state still has many areas under extreme drought.
Ahead of the low pressure, even warmer air funnels across the state, keeping most of Minnesota in the 70s, with a few 80s south by Friday. Saturday brings similar temperatures for all but northern Minnesota, which starts to see the cooler air behind the system, and a couple 60s.
That cooler air filters across all of the state by Sunday, with afternoon highs in the 60s. Some places may set their highs for Sunday at midnight, coming off the warm weather Saturday.
Here is that forecast for the Twin Cities:
High in the 60s then continue most of next week.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:48 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.
