Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Wetter weather pattern kicks in; severe risk especially Friday evening

Thunderstorms could drop heavy rainfall in many areas by Monday

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

Here we go. Our well-advertised wetter weather pattern is kicking in across Minnesota.

A stalled warm front draped from western Minnesota to near the Twin Cities will be the focus for some of the heaviest rain and thunderstorms through the upcoming weekend.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model shows the scattered and occasional coverage of the storm cells this weekend. The forecast model loop below runs between 1 a.m. Saturday and 1 a.m. Monday.

European ECMWF model
Forecast model between 1 a.m. Sunday and 1 a.m. Monday
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, via Pivotal Weather

Likely storm movement this weekend seems a little faster than Wednesday. So while local flooding is still possible, it looks like storms may move a littler faster this weekend and dump a a little less rain in many spots.

But most of our region looks likely to pick up 1 to 3 inches of rainfall through the weekend with some local totals of 4 inches or greater possible.

As always with the localized nature of summer convection, your results may vary. Here’s the European model rainfall output through Monday morning.

European (ECMWF) model precipitation output
Precipitation model output through 7 a.m. Monday
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, via Pivotal Weather

The highest severe weather risk Friday (especially evening) favors far eastern Minnesota into Wisconsin.

Severe weather risk areas
Severe weather risk areas Friday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet / Iowa State University.

The biggest flash flood risk covers much of central and southern Minnesota into Wisconsin, including the greater Twin Cities area.

Excessive rainfall outlook
Excessive rainfall outlook Sunday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet / Iowa State University.

Friday will be steamy across southern Minnesota with dew points rising into the tropical 70s and temperatures into the upper 80s.

Forecast high temperatures Friday
Forecast high temperatures Friday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Highs this weekend favor the 70s north to 80s south.

Keep an eye out Friday for possible weather watches and local warnings!