Weekend weather: Widely scattered showers, some thunderstorms

Another plodding weather system nudging into Minnesota has been spreading showers and thunderstorms eastward across southern Minnesota and into Wisconsin Friday afternoon.

One area of rain was tracking eastward through the heart of the Twin Cities from Minneapolis to St. Paul and beyond shortly before 5 p.m.

Weather radar at 5 p.m. on Friday
Weather radar at 5 p.m. Friday
National Weather Service

Showers and scattered thunderstorms should continue in or near the Twin Cities area through the evening hours.

Periods of rain will be in the forecasts just about statewide through Monday. The overall pattern is for short waves of meteorological energy to ride the upper-air southwesterly flow into the Upper Midwest. Each wave will kick off more showers.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

The best chance of thunderstorms will probably be in the afternoon and evening each day when solar energy has had a chance to induce uplift and enhance the instability.

Showers, storms Saturday afternoon

A few areas of showers might dot southern Minnesota Saturday morning and could brush the Twin Cities area.

Showers will become much more widespread around the state Saturday afternoon. Watch for thunderstorms to blossom later on Saturday in southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities area.

A marginal risk for severe weather (level 1 of 5) has been issued for the southernmost parts of Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin for Saturday afternoon and evening. Marginal hail and gusty winds are possible. A slight risk (level 2) is centered farther south.

Severe weather risk for Saturday
Severe weather risk for Saturday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm Prediction Center

Saturday will bring near-normal high temperatures in the 50s north and 60s south. The Twin Cities should reach about 66 degrees An east wind is not one that warms us dramatically.

Widely scattered showers on Sunday

Sunday will be warmer than Saturday, with a light southwest breeze. The Twin Cities should climb into the low 70s. It’s also likely to be less rainy than Saturday, but there will be some scattered showers. Thunderstorms will be possible again with the heating of the day.

The marginal risk area of severe weather has been nudged just a bit east of where it was posted for Saturday. The slight risk area shifts farther north to cover much of Iowa.

Severe weather risk for Sunday
Severe weather risk for Sunday
NOAA Storm Prediction Center

Warmer than normal next week

Monday could be a replay of Sunday with pleasant temperatures and widely scattered showers around the state, and afternoon-evening thunderstorms in the south and up to the Twin Cities. Some showers could linger into Tuesday.

Forecast high temperatures for Monday
Forecast high temperatures for Monday
NOAA Climate Prediction Center

By Wednesday, nearly all of Minnesota will be enjoying dry weather and high temperatures in the 70s. Areas near Lake Superior will retain their colder-by-the-lake status.

Overall, Wednesday could easily be the most pleasant day of the next week for outdoor activities statewide.

Forecast high temperatures for Wednesday
Forecast high temperatures for Wednesday
NOAA Climate Prediction Center

Thunderstorms are likely again later next week. Thursday seems to be the probable day for their arrival.