Dry weather lingers; 60s Monday, with 70s in southwestern Minn.
Temps retreat late in the week
We had a sun-splashed Saturday and we’ll see plenty of Sunday sunshine too.
Sunday will be another dry day in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
Monday and Tuesday look dry too. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale Forecast System model isn’t showing any precipitation in Minnesota or western Wisconsin from 6 a.m. Monday to 6 p.m. Tuesday:
Parts of southern Minnesota could see some rain showers Wednesday night or Thursday. Portions of Minnesota could see a rain/snow mix Friday night and Saturday.
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Fire weather update
A combination of wind and low relative humidity will create elevated fire weather conditions in western Minnesota Sunday afternoon. Here are details, from the National Weather Service:
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 512 AM CDT Sun Mar 10 2024 MNZ041-047-048-054>056-064-101600- Douglas-Stevens-Pope-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-Yellow Medicine- Including the cities of Alexandria, Morris, Glenwood, Madison, Benson, Montevideo, and Granite Falls 512 AM CDT Sun Mar 10 2024 ...ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITION TODAY WESTERN MINNESOTA... * WHAT...The combination of south to southeast winds of 10-20 mph and afternoon relative humidity values down near 20 percent will result in elevated fire weather conditions this afternoon. * WHERE...West central Minnesota. * WHEN...this afternoon. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop could spread rapidly. * ACTIONS...Check with your county or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to see if your county has any burning restrictions before starting any fires.
Updated forecast information will be posted by the National Weather Service offices in the Twin Cities, Sioux Falls, S.D. and Grand Forks, N.D.
Temperature trends
Sunday highs are expected to reach the 50s in the southern half of Minnesota and also in the Red River Valley of northwestern Minnesota. Highs will be mainly in the 40s elsewhere in Minnesota plus western Wisconsin. Portions of the Twin Cities metro area will top out in the lower 50s Sunday afternoon. That’s mild for March 10; the average Twin Cities high temperature is 39 degrees this time of year.
Monday will be the warmest day of the coming week. Monday highs reach the lower 70s in southwestern Minnesota, with 60s in the remainder of southern Minnesota plus central Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin:
Much of the northern third of Minnesota will see Monday highs in the 50s.
Tuesday high temps will be in the 60s in roughly the southern half of Minnesota, with a lot of 50s to the north:
Far northwestern Minnesota could see Tuesday highs in the 40s.
Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to be around 60 degrees on Wednesday, followed by lower 50s Thursday and then upper 40s on Friday. Highs in the 40s are expected next weekend.
Temperatures in Minnesota and Wisconsin could be near normal for the third week of March. Here’s the March 17 through March 23 temperature outlook from the NWS Climate Prediction Center:
Weather nugget
Sunset in the Twin Cities is at 7:13 p.m. today. The latest sunset in the Twin Cities will be at 9:04 p.m. CDT, from June 22 through June 29.
Programming note
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.