Prompts winter weather advisories as cold air moves in Friday night

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It’s just what the drought doctor ordered. A widespread soaking rainfall is unfolding across Minnesota late Monday and Tuesday.

Our current rain system is well-organized and loaded with substantial moisture. The result is a good and much-needed soaking rain to help recharge dry soils around Minnesota before the ground freezes up in the coming weeks. 

Our inbound low-pressure system is pushing north into Minnesota from Iowa. It’s a well-organized low with an impressive moisture feed. 

Rain will continue across most of Minnesota into early Tuesday, then taper off from south to north during the day. The bulk of the rain will end in the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota by around midday. 

Heavy rainfall along the North Shore has the potential to boost river levels.

Cold air will funnel into the backside of the storm. That will change rain to accumulating snow in the Red River Valley where a few inches could fall by Wednesday. It will be cold enough in the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota by Wednesday for a few scattered snow showers. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model run between Monday and Wednesday afternoon shows the system spinning through:  

Temperatures will be warm enough for all rain through Tuesday morning. In fact, temperatures may rise a few degrees in southern Minnesota overnight into early Tuesday as the system pulls in warm advection on the southeast side.

Highs will occur early Tuesday, ranging from the 50s across eastern Minnesota to colder 40s west. 

Frigid air will sweep in behind the storm Tuesday night and Wednesday with highs Wednesday in the 30s. 

It looks like the colder air is here to stay, Highs will run in the 20s and 30s across Minnesota into Thanksgiving week.

Right now, the American model hints at possible snow chances early next week. But the current runs of the European and Canadian models do not produce significant snow next week.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Wind and rain across Minnesota into Tuesday. Snow is likely in the northwest.

November soaker: 1 to 2 inches of rain for Minnesota

European model (ECMWF) precipitation output

November soaker: 1 to 2 inches of rain for Minnesota

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