Occasional rain showers with seasonal temperatures for the start of May

Expect mostly cloudy skies with occasional showers and temperatures near seasonal averages for Thursday. A brief dip into the 50s is expected on Friday followed by a pleasant warmup heading into the weekend.

Wet start to May

Occasional rain showers are expected throughout Thursday as a low-pressure system moves from South Dakota into Minnesota. These on-and-off showers will likely continue into Thursday night before tapering off by midnight.

Light precipitation is expected across most of the state with totals ranging from one-tenth to one-quarter inch. Northeastern Minnesota may see higher amounts, with rainfall between one-half and 1 inch.

Seasonal temperatures are expected in the mid-60s across much of the state with cooler, rain-cooled 50s likely in parts of central and northern Minnesota.

Cloud cover and light showers will persist through Thursday night with temperatures dipping into the mid-40s across much of the state and into the mid-30s in northern areas.

Cooler Friday before weekend warmup

Friday will bring cooler temperatures behind the system with a warmup expected for the weekend. Cloud cover will decrease throughout the day and temperatures will stay in the 50s across the state with the average high around 64 degrees.

Friday night will be chilly with lows dipping into the 30s and low 40s by Saturday morning.

A big warmup is on the way for the weekend with highs reaching the 60s on Saturday and even warmer temperatures in the 70s and 80s by Sunday.

Forecast models are showing a warm, dry trend heading into the first week of May.

Significant improvements were seen in the latest drought monitor, thanks to the beneficial rain that fell Sunday into Monday. Severe drought areas have been eliminated across the state, and northern Minnesota made major progress in easing drought conditions.

Just last week, over 46 percent of the state was in moderate drought — now that number has dropped to just over 22 percent.