Soaking rain, thunderstorms Friday; severe risk south of Twin Cities
A few storms could reach severe limits in southern Minnesota
Here comes another show of April showers, Minnesota.
This system will also produce thunderstorms, and a few could pack gusty winds and hail across southern Minnesota south of the Twin Cities Friday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center paints a marginal risk for a few severe cells, basically south of a line from Mankato through Rochester. The Interstate 90 corridor has the highest chance of severe storms Friday.
NOAA’s Global Forecast System model captures the essence of two distinct storms rolling through Minnesota between Friday and Sunday. Note the likely break in the rain between systems from Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning:
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Each system looks likely to produce around an inch of rain for much of Minnesota. Overall, widespread rainfall total by Monday should cover most of Minnesota with 1 to 2 inches. A few models suggest local 3-inch totals are possible.
Saturday will be the mildest day this weekend with highs from 50 degrees northwest to around 70 degrees in far southeastern Minnesota.
Winds will gust over 30 mph once again for most of the weekend.
Next week looks increasingly like spring with highs warming into the upper 60s with 70s possible for the first weekend in May.
Stay tuned.