Chilly start to the week; widespread 30s Wednesday morning

Sunday was as windy as advertised, with gusts of 35 to 45 mph across much of Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin. The peak gust at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was 46 mph. Winds will back off a bit on Monday, but it’ll still be breezy.

Sunday evening shower/t-storm chance

Northeastern Minnesota and parts of northwestern Wisconsin saw scattered showers and thunderstorms Sunday afternoon. The shower/t-storm chance will continue in those same areas Sunday evening.

We have updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the Minnesota Public Radio News network, and on the MPR News live weather blog.

Monday and Tuesday look rain-free in most of Minnesota plus western Wisconsin.

Temperature trends

MSP airport had a high of 72 on Sunday. That’s three degrees warmer than our average Sept. 25 high in the Twin Cities.

Monday highs will reach the lower 60s in the metro area, and we’ll share 60s with much of Minnesota:

North-central and northeastern Minnesota and much of western Wisconsin will have Monday highs in the 50s.

Low temperatures late Monday night and early Tuesday morning will be mainly in the 30s across northern and central Minnesota plus western Wisconsin:

Most areas will have lows in the 30s late Tuesday night into early Wednesday:

Check forecasts this week for possible frost advisories and freeze warnings.

Back to forecast highs, Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to be around 60 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by mid 60s Thursday and around 70 on Friday.

Ian is forecast to become a major hurricane

Tropical Storm Ian is expected to become a hurricane on Monday, and Ian could become a major hurricane this week. A hurricane warning has been issued for western portions of Cuba. Ian’s forecast track takes it toward the the west coast and panhandle of Florida Wednesday and Thursday.

Here’s the latest update on Ian, from the National Hurricane Center:

BULLETIN Tropical Storm Ian Advisory Number 11 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092022 500 PM EDT Sun Sep 25 2022 ...IAN EXPECTED TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT WIND AND STORM SURGE IMPACTS IN WESTERN CUBA... ...TROPICAL STORM WATCH ISSUED FOR THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS... SUMMARY OF 500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...16.2N 80.3W ABOUT 220 MI...355 KM SSE OF GRAND CAYMAN ABOUT 495 MI...795 KM SE OF THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...75 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1003 MB...29.62 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the lower Florida Keys from Seven Mile Bridge southward to Key West, including the Dry Tortugas. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Grand Cayman * Cuban provinces of Isla de Juventud, Pinar del Rio, and Artemisa A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Cuban provinces of La Habana, Mayabeque, and Matanzas A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... * Little Cayman and Cayman Brac * Lower Florida Keys from Seven Mile Bridge southward to Key West, including the Dry Tortugas A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm- force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours. Interests in central Cuba, the remainder of the Florida Keys, and the Florida peninsula should monitor the progress of Ian. For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ---------------------- At 500 PM EDT (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Ian was located near latitude 16.2 North, longitude 80.3 West. Ian is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph (19 km/h). A turn toward the northwest is expected tonight, followed by a north-northwestward motion on Monday and a northward motion on Tuesday with a slightly slower forward speed. On the forecast track, the center of Ian is expected to pass near or west of the Cayman Islands on Monday, and near or over western Cuba Monday night and early Tuesday. Ian will then emerge over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast tonight, followed by more rapid strengthening on Monday and Tuesday. Ian is forecast to become a hurricane on Monday and a major hurricane on Tuesday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- Key messages for Ian can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT4 and WMO header WTNT44 KNHC and on the web at hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT4.shtml. WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected to reach Grand Cayman on Monday, with tropical storm conditions expected early Tuesday. Hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area in Cuba by early Tuesday, with tropical storm conditions expected by late Monday. Tropical storm conditions are expected within the tropical storm warning area in Cuba Monday night and Tuesday. Tropical storm conditions are possible on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac on Monday. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the lower Florida Keys by Tuesday. RAINFALL: Ian is expected to produce the following rainfall: Jamaica and the Cayman Islands: 3 to 6 inches, with local maxima up to 8 inches. Western Cuba: 6 to 10 inches, with local maxima up to 16 inches. Florida Keys into southern and central Florida Peninsula: 2 to 4 inches, with local maxima up to 6 inches beginning Monday through Wednesday morning. Heavy rainfall may affect North Florida, the Florida Panhandle and the Southeast Thursday, Friday and Saturday. These rains may produce flash flooding and mudslides in areas of higher terrain, particularly over Jamaica and Cuba. Flash and urban flooding are possible across the Florida Keys and the Florida peninsula through mid week. Additional flooding and rises on area streams and rivers across northern Florida and parts of the southeast U.S. later this week cannot be ruled out, especially in central Florida given already saturated conditions. STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide... East Cape Sable, FL to Card Sound Bridge...1-3 ft Florida Keys, FL including Dry Tortugas...1-3 ft Florida Bay...1-3 ft The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the right of the center, where the surge will be accompanied by large waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 9 to 14 feet above normal tide levels along the coast of western Cuba in areas of onshore winds in the hurricane warning area Monday night and early Tuesday. Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds in the Cayman Islands Sunday night into Monday. SURF: Swells generated by Ian are affecting Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Swells will spread northwestward to the southwestern coast of Cuba and the coasts of Honduras, Belize, and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico on Monday and Monday night. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

Here’s the forecast track of Ian, including the cone of uncertainty for the path of Ian’s center:

The National Hurricane Center will issue several updates on Ian Sunday night and through this coming week.

Programming note

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