Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Occasional scattered rain and thunder this week

Many dry hours this week but also localized storms, possible hail

It’s a pretty classic spring weather pattern across Minnesota this week.

Highs have finally reached the 70s across the southern half of Minnesota. Our warmer temperatures and abundant sunshine also make conditions favorable for a few pop-up showers and thunderstorms this week.

We’ll enjoy plenty of sunny and mild hours this week, but the scattered storms will be capable of changing the weather mood in a hurry.

As of this post, scattered thunderstorms with downpours and some hail are rumbling across southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. At least one severe thunderstorm warning has been issued.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model shows the trend of scattered storms sliding eastward across southern Minnesota Monday evening. The forecast model loop below runs between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Monday.

NOAA HRRR model
High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Monday
NOAA, via Tropical Tidbits

There is a marginal (low) risk that storms could reach severe limits Monday evening across southern Minnesota.

Better chance of rain Tuesday

Tuesday brings a better chance for increased rainfall coverage. Most of the day will be dry. But a few models favor scattered storms developing Tuesday later afternoon and evening moving through central and southern Minnesota including the Twin Cities.

NOAA’s North American Mesoscale 3 km model shows scattered showers and embedded thunderstorms moving across our region Tuesday afternoon and evening.

The forecast model loop below runs between 1 p.m. Tuesday and 1 a.m. Wednesday.

NOAA NAM 3 km model 2
North American Mesoscale 3 km model between 1 p.m. Tuesday and 1 a.m. Wednesday
NOAA, via Tropical Tidbits

Most forecast models bring a bigger low-pressure system into Minnesota by the upcoming weekend. That would likely produce more widespread rainfall. NOAA’s Global Forecast System model cranks out an inch of rain for much of Minnesota by Sunday.

NOAA GFS precipitation output
Global Forecast System precipitation output through Sunday
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

Most Minnesotans prefer sunnier weekends. Let’s see how the timing shakes out on this one.

Stay tuned.