Lovely widespread rain soaking much of Minnesota

We are finally seeing the widespread soaking rain that Minnesota couldn’t get all summer. Next week’s drought conditions report will certainly show much improvement.

Rain fell on most of southern and central Minnesota overnight and continues Friday morning. Early reports up to 8 a.m. indicate many rainfalls in the Twin Cities area so far were around 1 inch with spotty areas such as Eden Prairie getting closer to 2 inches.

Rochester and St. Cloud reported about 1 inch while Brainerd and Duluth got only about one-tenth of an inch.

Much of northern Minnesota remained dry. International Falls, for example, reported no rain.

While some areas have had a temporary break in the rain, another area of moderate rain has been building into the Twin Cities from the south.

Significant areas of rain will continue over southern and central Minnesota through the day on Friday and into Friday night. High temperatures will be mainly from the upper 40s to mid 50s with east to northeast winds gusting to around 30 mph.

The storm system bringing all this rain will begin to move east across Iowa. Drier air from the north should bring most of the rain over Minnesota to a halt later Friday night.

Drying out Saturday

By Saturday morning, scattered showers might linger over just southern Minnesota as well as central to southern Wisconsin.

Winds will diminish gradually on Saturday but cool temperatures will continue.

Sunday will be a brighter day with at least some sunshine and temperatures closer to normal for mid-October.

Expect dry days Monday and Tuesday to begin the work week. Tuesday might be the most pleasant day of the upcoming week before chances of rain arrive again, beginning about Wednesday.