Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Thunder chances increase as muggy air returns

Dry, pleasant weather is back for Saturday

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Forecast dew points 5 a.m. Thursday through 11 p.m.
College of DuPage weather lab

After some dry, stable days we’re headed back into an unsettled pattern as dew points increase. The best chance of widespread thunder is Friday into Friday night.

Thunder chances increase as muggy air returns 

There are some ongoing showers and thunderstorms in portions of Minnesota Thursday morning. Most of this activity will gradually diminish through the morning. More isolated-to-spotty storms are possible again Thursday afternoon and evening.

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Forecast simulated radar 9 a.m. Thursday through 10 p.m.
College of DuPage weather lab

We’ll otherwise have a mix of clouds, sun and warm conditions again. Afternoon highs will range from near 90 degrees for some in western Minnesota to the 70s along the North Shore. 

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Forecast highs Thursday
National Weather Service

A better, more widespread chance of scattered showers and storms develops for most Thursday night into Friday and Friday night especially as the main upper-level disturbances push into the region.

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Forecast simulated radar 10 p.m. Thursday through 7 a.m. Saturday
College of DuPage weather lab

Luckily, there’s a relatively low risk of severe weather Friday. There’s a marginal risk (level 1 of 5) for any isolated severe thunderstorms to develop. 

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Severe weather outlook for Friday
NOAA, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet of Iowa State University

Rainfall amounts will really vary depending on thunderstorm intensity and placement but generally most of us can expect anywhere from one-quarter inch to 1.5 inches of additional rainfall Thursday into Friday night.

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

The system pulls out early Saturday, allowing for clearing skies and dropping dew points. Dew points will fall from the very muggy low 70s Friday to the comfortable 50s by Saturday afternoon.

dews loop
Forecast dew points 7 p.m. Friday through through 4 p.m. Saturday
College of DuPage weather lab

It will also be a bit cooler Saturday with highs mostly in the 70s to low 80s before warming back up a few degrees Sunday. 

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Forecast highs Saturday
National Weather Service

The next best chance at showers and thunderstorms develops for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.