One last hot, dry day before a cooler, stormy pattern takes hold
Temperatures will run below normal after Thursday
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Wednesday will be the last mostly sunny, dry and hot day for a bit. Our chances for rain and thunder increase Wednesday night into Thursday and will be followed by much cooler weather.
From hot and dry to cool and wet
The end of our unusually early May heat wave is nearly here. Wednesday will be back in the 80s with low 90s in the west.
We’re already seeing signs of changes ahead. Some instability is creating spotty showers in portions of mainly southeastern and northeastern Minnesota Wednesday.
An air quality alert also remains in effect for parts of northeast Minnesota due to wildfire smoke.
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Dew points will be higher than the last few days. That will increase afternoon relative humidity and lessen the fire danger some. Conditions on Wednesday are below red flag criteria across the state but still considered near-critical in western Minnesota.
That moisture will also play a role in the changing weather pattern, allowing for increased chances of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday night into Thursday with lingering moisture Friday.
The first round of storms will come late Wednesday night into Thursday morning as leftover over storms from South Dakota move east. More storms will redevelop Thursday afternoon and evening ahead of a cold front in eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
We could even see a couple of severe storms early Thursday in southwestern Minnesota — leftovers from overnight storms Wednesday night. There’s a slight risk (level 2 of 5) for severe storms in the southwestern corner of the state early Thursday.
The focus will then move east later Thursday. An enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) is forecast for much of western Wisconsin right up to the Minnesota border for Thursday afternoon and evening storm potential. The Twin Cities is in a slight risk (level 2 of 5) for severe storms.
Most of Minnesota looks to get at least some rain, with the highest values now looking to line up for central Minnesota. This is a slight shift from previous forecasts painting the highest rainfall in northwestern Minnesota.
Coming with the potential rain will be considerably cooler temperatures. The cold front could create some pretty high winds Thursday evening and Thursday night — not from thunderstorms but from a strong pressure gradient.
We’ll see below-normal temperatures Friday into much of next week. That equates to mostly 60s in southern Minnesota and 50s north. Northern Minnesota will also have frost to contend with Friday and Saturday nights.
