Winter storm warnings in northern Minnesota

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

A potent storm bringing showers and storms Wednesday is also ushering noticeably cooler weather that lingers through the weekend.

The low pressure of a storm tracking across southern Minnesota during the day Wednesday had already made it into southwestern Minnesota as of 9 a.m.

This is pushing a wide band of showers and storms in southwestern Minnesota, and spotty activity in other parts of southern and central Minnesota that increases through the morning.

Due to the path of the storm, the northern edge of the state is unlikely to see much precipitation.

The rest of the state is projected to see about one-half inch to 1 inch of rain with localized higher rainfall amounts over an inch in areas that see thunderstorms, especially in western Minnesota. There may also be a couple isolated severe storms Wednesday along the southern edge of the state, with large hail as the primary risk.

The wet weather continues through the day Wednesday, then winds down overnight.

Cooler air has already filtered across most of the state along with the storm. Morning lows ranged from 30s north to 50s south, which is actually above average. However, temperatures warm very little during the day, with highs in the 40s for most of the state and 50s south.

Those are near-average highs for this time of year, but it will be noticeably cooler than the recent highs in the 70s much of the state experienced earlier in the week.

The rain moves out overnight Wednesday with drier skies by early Thursday. Clouds then clear quickly, and mostly sunny skies return to the state by Thursday afternoon.

Even with the return of sunshine though, the cooler, more typical October temperatures remain through the weekend. Highs from Thursday through Sunday will be mostly in the 40s, with a few low 50s south.

Under mostly clear skies by late Thursday and with the chillier air in place, lows Friday morning will drop into the 20s for most of the state with a few low 30s south.  

Most of Minnesota has already seen frost this season, but there are a few spots in southern Minnesota that have not, particularly around the Twin Cities.  The cold air Friday and also Saturday morning should ensure that any remaining areas finally get their first frost of the season.

Mostly sunny skies prevail Friday and Saturday, then more clouds move back in along with a storm that is likely to bring more rain Sunday into Monday. 

We will keep you posted on that potential storm as next week approaches.

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

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Nicole Mitchell 

Author

A potent storm bringing showers and storms Wednesday is also ushering noticeably cooler weather that lingers through the weekend.


Following weather wet Wednesday, colder air takes hold

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox