Thunderstorm risk followed by a chilly weekend
Thunderstorms will pop up Wednesday in northern and central Minnesota with warmer temperatures statewide. Another risk of thunderstorms develops Thursday with possible severe weather.
High water levels
Many lakes and rivers in northern Minnesota are seeing their highest levels since at least 2014; some the highest recorded.
Rainy and Namakan lakes are expected to rise another foot before May 22. Other lakes are also high. Lake of the Woods is up 3 to 4 feet this spring. Upper and Lower Red Lakes are up 2 feet and Mille Lacs lake farther south is up almost a foot and a half. In the Twin Cities, Lake Minnetonka is up a comparatively modest, foot.
Even Lake Superior is up a foot this spring. That’s huge considering its size.
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Some thunderstorms Wednesday; severe risk Thursday
Temperatures and dew points increase Wednesday and Thursday and that will increase the risk of some thunderstorms. The risk of severe weather is slight (level 2 out 5) for portions of northeast Minnesota this afternoon.
Thunderstorms will pop Wednesday afternoon into the evening mainly across northern and central Minnesota.
A risk of thunderstorms also develops Thursday. There’s a slight risk of possible severe weather with those storms into Thursday night.
Chilly weekend follows storminess
Behind the warmer air and thunderstorms some pretty chilly air for late May moves in for the weekend. Highs will only be in the 50s Saturday, 40s north.
Temperatures Saturday night will be in the 30s and 40s across the state with frost likely in northern Minnesota.