Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Brighter skies return Tuesday after a cold Monday

A chance to dry out, though cold

mon highs ALT
Cold high temperatures Monday will be barely above record values
NOAA via pivotal weather

Expect close to record cold highs Monday, with 30s and 40s across Minnesota. Tuesday brings sun and lighter winds.

A wacky weekend of weather

We had our first 70s for many locations Saturday but we also saw some eventful weather. Severe storms struck northwestern and southeastern Minnesota with flooding rains in the northwest. The Grand Forks, N.D., and Crookston, Minn., areas saw up to 3 to 4 inches of rainfall Saturday.

GFK rainfall
Saturday rainfall was excessive for many areas in northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota
National Weather Service

That heavy rain in a short period of time combined with recent snow melt has the Red and Red Lake rivers on a rapid rise. The Red River at Grand Forks is expected to crest at nearly 21 feet above flood stage early Thursday.

GFK rivers
Forecast river levels on the Red River at Grand Forks
National Weather Service

The Red Lake River at Crookston is expected to continue to go down Monday and Tuesday.

Crookston rivers
River forecast levels for the Red Lake River at Crookston
National Weather Service

The same storms that brought all that rain also was responsible for a brief tornado touchdown Saturday afternoon outside of Crookston.

crookston TOR
A tornado briefly touched down outside Crookston on Saturday afternoon
National Weather Service

Almost record cold highs Monday

It’ll be a cold one Monday. Temperatures will be just shy of record cold highs for most. We’ll be mainly in the 30s and low 40s with blustery northwest winds still at 10-20 mph, gusting to 25-35.

highs MON
High temperatures Monday will be near records for some
National Weather Service

Tuesday brings a return of sunshine and lighter winds but it will still be chillier than normal. We’ll see mainly 40s, some low 50s southwest but also pockets of 30s north.

Tues highs
High temperatures Tuesday
National Weather Service

More rains ahead to close out April

We’ll need to keep a close eye on a significant system that will bring the potential for heavy rain Friday night into Saturday. While the Red Lake River will have come down significantly by then, the Red River will still be at very high levels.

Rainfall amounts could top out over 1 inch for much of Minnesota.

sat precip loop
Saturday rainfall could be heavy for many areas
College of DuPage

A more minor system moves through Thursday, bringing more scattered showers and lighter amounts before that.

thu precip
Showers are again possible Thursday
College of DuPage

Closer to normal ahead?

While this week will be mainly below normal, temperatures are near normal by the weekend and as we head into the first week of May. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center forecasts equal chances of above or below normal temperatures next week.

8 to 14 day
The 8- to 14-day outlook gives equal chances of warmer or colder than normal conditions
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center