Saturday 'sunrise surprise' storms could kick off a summery Memorial Day weekend
A few models bring thunder early Saturday morning.
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Here we go, Minnesota.
The first of the big three warm-season holiday weekends is here. This Memorial Day weekend will feel like summer. Highs in the 80s and dew points rising into the sticky 60s to near 70 degrees at times will have the look and feel of late June or July.
The majority of this weekend will feature sunny to partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures. But there are a couple of windows for passing thunderstorms. Some of those could be severe this weekend.
Saturday sunrise surprise?
Well, I guess it won’t be a surprise if you’re reading this. A few short-range models develop a cluster of storms overnight in western Minnesota that could roll into the Twin Cities and central Minnesota around sunrise Saturday.
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NOAA’s WRF model is one that shows the cluster developing in western Minnesota around 3 am and rumbling toward the Twin Cities and eastern Minnesota between about 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. Saturday.
The severe risk looks low with this possible storm cluster. But NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center paints a marginal risk for severe storms Saturday across most of Minnesota.
Saturday afternoon and evening will be sunny and summery, and probably storm-free.
Higher severe risk Sunday and Memorial Day
Heat and humidity will build Sunday and Memorial Day across Minnesota. Highs will push well into the 80s Sunday afternoon.
Highs will approach the 90-degree mark on Memorial Day for parts of southern Minnesota.
Sunday’s severe risk elevates to enhanced across western Minnesota. The Twin Cities and much of eastern Minnesota are in the slight risk zone.
There’s also a risk of severe storms for Memorial Day. The European model suggests an arc of strong storms moving through Minnesota Monday afternoon. The image below is for 7 p.m. Monday.
Have a great holiday weekend, but keep one eye out for possible severe weather watches and warnings.
Frigid water
The air will be warm and summery this weekend for the first time in months. But the water in Minnesota’s lakes and rivers is still frigid. Cold shock and gasp reflex are life-threatening if you fall into these frigid waters.
I know this first hand. I nearly drowned with a good friend in frigid waters on Lake Minnetonka in May when I was 20 years old. When I ran out of strength I was lucky that the lake bottom was about four feet deep and I could make it to shore. And I’m a strong swimmer.
Please wear your life jacket on the water this weekend. Let’s all get home safe to enjoy another summer.
