Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

More rain Thursday before a dry Friday

Steamy and unsettled this weekend

flood watch 959
Flood watch for southeast Minnesota 12 p.m. Thursday through 1 a.m. Friday
National Weather Service

We’ll have another round of showers and thunder for Thursday that should wrap up by the evening. Friday will be mostly dry with decreasing clouds before a steamy and unsettled weekend.  

More rain Thursday but dry Friday 

Our second round of rainfall is filling in and moving across southern and central Minnesota into western Wisconsin Thursday morning. The rain should wrap up by late afternoon and evening. The rain will be overall lighter than Wednesday.

Strong to severe storms could develop in southeastern Minnesota Thursday afternoon and evening.

thu-fri prec 837
Forecast simulated radar 7 a.m. Thursday through 1 a.m. Friday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Pivotal Weather

Additional rainfall will be generally lighter than Wednesday, but still in the 1 to 2-inch range for most with locally higher amounts possible especially in southeastern Minnesota with some stronger storms in the afternoon-evening hours.

addl rain 701
Additional rainfall Thursday
WeatherBELL Analytics

A flood watch is posted for southeast Minnesota 12 p.m. Thursday through 1 a.m. Friday.

flood watch 959
Flood watch for southeast Minnesota 12 p.m. Thursday through 1 a.m. Friday
National Weather Service

There’s also the risk of more severe storms, including isolated tornadoes in southeastern Minnesota Thursday afternoon and evening. There’s a slight risk (level 2 of 5) of severe storms forecast for southeastern Minnesota into southwestern Wisconsin Thursday into Thursday night.

SPC Thu
Severe weather outlook for Thursday into Thursday night
NOAA, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet of Iowa State University

Temperatures won’t warm much in areas that see rainfall, mostly in the 60s to low 70s. Far northern Minnesota will be warmer with a little sun.

thu hi
Forecast highs Thursday
National Weather Service

Friday should be mostly dry with decreasing clouds and even a brief drop in dew points. Highs will be in the 70s to low 80s in western Minnesota.

fri hi 305
Forecast highs Friday
National Weather Service

The weekend brings steamy conditions with highs near 90 degrees for parts of southern Minnesota and very humid dew points in the 70s.

That mix of heat, humidity and a couple more upper-level disturbances moving through the region means we’ll see some additional thunder chances, although no day should be a washout this weekend. 

The best chances will be in northern Minnesota late Friday night into Saturday, then for much of the state late Saturday into Saturday night.

weekend prec
Forecast precipitation 7 p.m. Friday through 1 a.m. Monday
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, via Pivotal Weather

There’s also the chance of some severe weather this weekend. Friday night into early Saturday, the severe risk is in northwestern Minnesota, where there’s a slight risk (level 2 of 5) forecast.

spc FRI
Severe weather outlook for Friday night into early Saturday
NOAA, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet of Iowa State University

By late Saturday into Saturday night, the risk for severe storms is slight (level 2 of 5) for much of central and southern Minnesota. Storm chances during the day Sunday look more isolated.

spc SAT
Severe weather outlook Saturday into Saturday night
NOAA, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet of Iowa State University

Dew points then drop behind a cool front for Monday, allowing for calmer, more settled weather Monday through Wednesday with seasonable temperatures, mostly in the 70s and 80s.