Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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I’ve noticed some brilliant fall colors in the Twin Cities metro area over the past few days. There seems to be an unusual range of fall color for this time of year; many trees have great fall color while some trees are still completely green or have just started to change. The number of trees that have dropped most of their leaves seems lower than normal.

I’m thinking that our hot and dry summer that was followed by generous rains in late September is giving us this unusual changeover to fall colors.

Much of northern Minnesota is past peak for fall colors, but beautiful fall colors are on display in large portions of central and southern Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 

 for Minnesota State Parks and Trails looks like this:

When you look at the fall color map, keep in mind that all deciduous trees are included, not just maples.

The Wisconsin fall color report can be found 

A low pressure system will track slowly away from us today, but it’ll deliver wind gusts in the 24 mph to 32 mph range to much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin through Saturday afternoon. Some spots will see even higher wind gusts at times.

A high pressure system will bring us much lighter winds on Sunday.

Portions of northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin have seen rain showers Saturday morning. Periods of rain showers will continue in parts of northeastern Minnesota and in portions of Wisconsin Saturday afternoon.

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR News 

MPR News display of National Weather Service radar

Most of Sunday will be dry. Scattered showers could move into western Minnesota Sunday evening. The shower chance will expand into eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin overnight Sunday night and then linger into early Monday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential rain pattern from 6 p.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Monday:

The average Twin Cities high temperature is 55 degrees on Oct. 21. Some spots in the metro area will reach the lower 60s Saturday afternoon.

Much of Minnesota will have Saturday highs in the 50s. There’ll be some 60s in southern Minnesota and a few spots in far northeastern Minnesota could see highs in the upper 40s.

Sunday highs will be mainly in the 50s, with lower 60s in parts of southern Minnesota:

Parts of Cook County of northeastern Minnesota could see highs in the upper 40s.

Monday high temps reach the 60s in many areas, with 50s in far northern Minnesota:

After mid 60s on Monday, Twin Cities metro area highs retreat to the upper 50s Tuesday, followed by mid 50s Wednesday then lower 50s Thursday and Friday. 

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Ron Trenda

Author

Gusty winds stay with us Saturday afternoon, then our winds ease up overnight into Sunday. We have your weekend forecast details, plus a fall color update.

Winds ease up on Sunday; Monday will be the warmest day next week

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