Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Waves of rain through Thursday; winter storm watch up north Thursday, Friday

Twin Cities could see 2 inches of rain through Friday

WPC QPF 8a
Forecast total precipitation Tuesday through Friday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Pivotal Weather

Milder air returns Tuesday with gusty south-southeast winds at 10-20 mph. Afternoon showers develop from west to east across Minnesota. Expect periods of rain through Thursday. Rain turns to significant snow in northern Minnesota Thursday with lighter amounts south.

First rains come Tuesday afternoon

Strong south and southeast winds blowing at 10-20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph Tuesday are drawing in warmer air and moisture all part of a large, developing storm system. Highs will be in the low 50s south and 40s north.

The first showers will develop midday in southwest Minnesota and expand east through the afternoon into the evening and overnight hours.

tues precip 8a
Forecast precipitation 10 a.m. Tuesday through 3 a.m. Wednesday
NOAA via pivotal weather

Significant rain through Thursday; winter storm watch north

Much of the shower activity will move into central and northern Minnesota into northwestern Wisconsin during the day Wednesday. Late Wednesday into Thursday more showers will fill in across much of central Minnesota, including the Twin Cities area.

During the day Thursday, rain will transition to heavy snow and a potential icy mix in northwestern Minnesota. Friday the showers will turn to snow showers in southern Minnesota as well.

long precip loop
Forecast precipitation and type 6 a.m. Tuesday through 6 a.m. Friday
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, via Pivotal Weather

Thursday will be a very interesting setup. A winter storm watch will be in effect in northern Minnesota as heavy snow develops.

winter storm watch
Winter storm watch for Wednesday night into Friday across northern Minnesota
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

We also have the chance of severe weather in southern Minnesota as the cold front runs into mild, muggy air. There’s a slight risk (level 2 out of 5) of severe storms in far southern Minnesota Thursday afternoon.

spc day 3
Severe weather forecast for Thursday
NOAA Storm Prediction Center

The best chances of heavy snow will be in northern Minnesota where more than 6 inches of snow is increasingly likely.

4 in snow prob
Forecast probability of 4 or more inches of snow Wednesday night into Friday
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

In southern Minnesota the risk of significant snow is low, but we could see a coating Friday into Friday night. By the time it’s cold enough in the Twin Cities, much of the moisture will be east.

snow chances south
Forecast chances of 1 or more inches of snow Friday
National Weather Service

In total, we can expect significant precipitation amounts for much of Minnesota into western Wisconsin. The heaviest totals look to be just north of the Twin Cities area and just north of the worst drought areas.

NWS precip totals
Forecast precipitation totals through Friday
National Weather Service