Toasty June weekend; Isolated showers and thunderstorms

The weather pattern across the northern half of the U.S. remains stuck in place. Unseasonably warm air with a note of humidity hangs over Minnesota this weekend. Saturday’s high temperatures are running more than 10 degrees warmer than normal at most locations. Some spots touched 90 by late afternoon, including from Blaine and Princeton in central Minnesota to Morris and Elbow Lake in the west central up to Moorhead and Hallock in the northwest.

Unorganized convection has led to pop-up isolated showers and a few thunderstorms, kicked off be the heating of the day. Instability is weak, so severe weather is not likely. However, the showers and storms that have developed are moving quite slowly and can drop some heavy rain for a time.

Composite weather radar at 5 p.m. Saturday
Composite weather radar at 5 p.m. Saturday
National Weather Service

Sunday will be a thermal repeat with high temperatures mainly from the mid 80s to low 90s, but cooler near Lake Superior. The Twin Cities should warm close to 90 degrees. Showers will be sparse on Sunday. The best chances for rain will likely be in northeastern Minnesota toward late afternoon.

Backdoor cold front Monday

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.

A weak cold front will sweep southwestward across Minnesota on Monday. These cold fronts from the northeast instead of the usual arrival directions from the west or northwest are called “backdoor cold fronts.” The forecast map below shows the forecast position of the front at 7 p.m. CDT Monday. Expect the front to kick off areas of light rain as it pushes across the state.

Forecast weather map for Monday
Forecast weather map for Monday
NOAA Weather Prediction Center

Turning cooler beginning Tuesday

Cooler air, but still warmer than normal for early June, will take over on Tuesday.

Forecast high temperatures for Tuesday
Forecast high temperatures for Tuesday
NOAA Weather Prediction Center

Expect the cooler, but still summery, temperatures to hang around through next weekend.

Showers later in the week?

Rain will again be possible later next week. As of now, the official rainfall forecast calls for total rainfalls of a half inch or less for all parts of Minnesota over the next seven days. But some model output calls for amounts in excess of an inch for parts of western and southern Minnesota through next Saturday. Forecasting total rainfall so many days in advance during the convective season is rather inexact.

Also note on the forecast map the heavy rain seemingly heading for southern Florida where it will not be welcome. Rain for dry Nova Scotia would be a blessing as they battle wildfires there.

Forecast 7-day rainfall through 7 p.m. next Saturday
Forecast 7-day rainfall through 7 p.m. next Saturday
NOAA Weather Prediction Center