Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

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Much of Minnesota will have a pleasant Saturday, with highs in the 50s. There could even be a few lower 60s in southwestern Minnesota. 

Parts of northwestern and west-central Minnesota will see wind gusts of 20-30 mph Saturday afternoon and evening, with much lighter winds elsewhere. A stray rain shower is also possible in northwestern Minnesota and parts of north-central Minnesota. 

Energy from a solar storm could give us a nice display of northern lights Saturday night:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center

Cloud cover may obscure our viewing in eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin Saturday evening. Here’s NOAA’s NAM forecast model of cloud cover from 6 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday:

Western Minnesota will have the most hours of potential viewing, but parts of eastern Minnesota could have a window of opportunity early in the evening and also later in the overnight hours. We’ll update the cloud forecast later today.

Highs will be in the 40s in most areas on Sunday:

Many areas will see wind gusts of 20-27 mph on Sunday:

Plotted wind forecasts are in knots, with 20 knots equal to 23 mph. Far northern Minnesota could see a passing rain or snow shower on Sunday. 

Trick or treaters will have 7 p.m. Sunday temps in the 30s in most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin with temps close to 40 in the metro area and parts of southeastern Minnesota:

Temps will continue to fall as we go through Sunday evening.

Cool temps are on tap this coming week. Twin Cities highs will be in the lower 40s Monday, then around 40 Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by lower 40s Thursday and mid 40s on Friday.

 from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shows fall colors past peak in the dark-red shaded areas of Minnesota:

The percentage of changeover to fall colors is between 75 percent and 100 percent in the medium-red shaded areas of southeastern Minnesota.

Keep in mind that all deciduous trees are included in the fall color report, not just maples.

I’m still seeing small pockets of excellent fall color in parts of the Twin Cities:

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Ron Trenda

Author

Today will be the warmest day of the next six days. We’ll also have a chance to see a northern lights display Saturday night — if clouds don’t interfere. We have details on all that, plus a look at the forecast for Halloween and the week ahead.

A pleasant Saturday, with northern lights potential tonight

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