Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Heavy rain potential late Thursday into Friday morning

Mostly dry Saturday before active weather returns

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Forecast rainfall through Friday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Pivotal Weather

We’ll have spotty showers and storms Thursday with more widespread activity developing Thursday afternoon into Friday morning. Heavy rain is possible for central and southern Minnesota. 

Multiple rounds of showers and storms with heavy rain potential 

Buckle in for a wet 24 to 36 hours across much of central and southern Minnesota. We’ve seen some rain and thunder already Thursday morning, but the main action arrives later into Thursday night and Friday morning.

Ongoing spotty showers and storms will be closer to the stalled frontal boundary in southern Minnesota during the day, but more widespread activity develops with heavier rains Thursday afternoon and early Friday across central and southern Minnesota.

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Forecast simulated radar 8 a.m. Thursday through 3 p.m. Friday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Pivotal Weather

The heaviest rainfall totals look to be across central and southern Minnesota with a widespread 1 to 3 inches possible, but there will be locally higher amounts of potentially 4 or more inches in isolated pockets. 

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Forecast rainfall through Friday
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

There’s a slight risk of excessive rainfall, defined by a 15 percent or greater chance of flash flooding, within the risk region. 

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Excessive rainfall risk Thursday into Thursday night
NOAA Weather Prediction Center

Temperatures Thursday will not be particularly warm in areas with denser clouds and showers, mostly in the 70s. Closer to the warm front near the Minnesota-Iowa border, some highs will reach 80 degrees.

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Forecast highs Thursday
National Weather Service

The risk of any severe weather looks fairly low and confined to areas closer to the front in far southern Minnesota.

There’s a marginal risk (level 1 of 5) for a couple of isolated severe storms Thursday into Thursday night with the main threats being large hail or some damaging wind gusts.

day1spc
Severe weather outlook Thursday into Thursday night
NOAA Storm Prediction Center

In addition to rain we have yet another air quality alert for much of central and southern Minnesota through Thursday.

Check the latest air quality conditions, alerts and forecasts here:

Friday will see morning showers tapering off in the afternoon. Lingering clouds will keep it cool with highs mostly in the 60s and low 70s, but parts of northeastern Minnesota will remain only in the 50s with blustery northeast winds.

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Forecast highs Friday
National Weather Service

Saturday looks mostly dry. It will be mostly cloudy with peeks of sun and a bit cool with highs just in the 60s and 70s, but Sunday will be a bit brighter and warmer.

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Forecast highs Saturday and Sunday
National Weather Service

We already have another chance at storms Saturday night and late Sunday. Take advantage of the break Saturday to do some yard work because next week looks active again with numerous thunder chances. 

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Forecast precipitation 7 p.m. Saturday through 1 p.m. Wednesday
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, via Pivotal Weather
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