Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Spotty shower and storm chances through Friday; highest severe risk south

Friday evening storm chances for the Twin Cities

Twin Cities forecast at a glance
Twin Cities forecast at a glance.
Twin Cities National Weather Service office

We’re watching a couple of weak-low pressure waves passing through the Upper Midwest through Friday.

The first brought a few spotty showers Thursday morning. That wave may trigger some stronger thunderstorms across Iowa and far southern Minnesota later Thursday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center is watching the risk zone in Iowa and far southern Minnesota for possible weather watch Thursday afternoon. But NOAA doesn’t expect to post a watch at this time.

The highest severe risk Thursday favors Iowa with an enhanced risk zone.

Most forecast models favor greater thunderstorm coverage moving across Minnesota from west to east on Friday.

NOAA’s FV3 model is typical of many that suggest a broken line of storms moving across Minnesota Thursday afternoon with a (fading?) storm line favoring arrival in the Twin Cities sometime Friday evening.

NOAA FV3 model
Finite­-Volume Cubed-Sphere Dynamical Core model between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

Thankfully, the overall setup doesn’t look great for severe weather Friday with a marginal (low) risk zone across Minnesota.

Severe weather risk areas
Severe weather risk areas Friday
NOAA, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet / Iowa State University.

Highs will run mostly in the 80s Friday afternoon.

Forecast high temperatures Friday
Forecast high temperatures Friday
NOAA

Great July weekend ahead

The latest model runs favor a beautiful July weekend ahead for Minnesota. This should be a great time up at the lake or at your favorite chill spot. Look for plenty of sunshine both days. Highs favor the 70s Saturday, with more widespread 80s by Sunday afternoon.

Forecast high temperatures Sunday
Forecast high temperatures Sunday
NOAA

Get out there Minnesota!