Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Sunny Labor Day, then a taste of fall and storms this week

Happy first day of meteorological fall!

850 millibar temperature anomalies for Tuesday morning through Saturday night
850 millibar temperature anomalies for Tuesday morning through Saturday night
NOAA via Pivotal Weather

Labor Day will feel like late summer, but by midweek, expect a shift to fall-like temperatures and the possibility of storms across the region.

Happy first day of meteorological fall! August is behind us, and the month ended about a degree above average, but with 3/4 of an inch less rainfall than usual. After a long dry stretch, that’s about to change this week, as a potent cold front moves in, bringing cooler temperatures and the return of precipitation.

Bright Labor Day

High pressure over the Great Lakes will bring continued sunshine to wrap up our long holiday weekend. Temperatures will be just right for early September, with highs reaching the mid to upper 70s.

Highs for Monday
Highs for Monday
National Weather Service

By Monday afternoon, a bit of instability could trigger isolated to scattered showers into the evening. While this activity is mainly expected west of the Twin Cities, it’s not out of the question for it to drift eastward.

Forecast precipitation Monday 8 a.m. to midnight
Forecast precipitation Monday 8 a.m. to midnight
NOAA via Pivotal Weather

Cool temps and stormy skies

Our next big weather feature will approach central Minnesota by Tuesday afternoon. Ahead of this front, dew points will climb into the low to mid-60s, creating enough instability for a broken line of storms to form.

Forecast precipitation Tuesday 7 a.m. through Wednesday 7 p.m.
Forecast precipitation Tuesday 7 a.m. through Wednesday 7 p.m.
NOAA via Pivotal Weather

These storms will move southeast through Tuesday evening and night. As the front moves through, gusty winds could pose a threat. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a Marginal Risk (level 1 out of 5) for severe storms in parts of the area.

Marginal risk for severe weather
Marginal risk for severe weather
NOAA via Storm Prediction Center

From Wednesday through Saturday, expect fall-like conditions as a low-pressure system between Lake Superior and Hudson Bay brings cooler air and a chance for showers. 850 millibar temperature anomalies show a significant dip as seen below. Our surface temperatures are expected to be 20-30 degrees below average.

850 millibar temperature anomalies for Tuesday morning through Saturday night
850 millibar temperature anomalies for Tuesday morning through Saturday night
NOAA via Pivotal Weather

By Sunday, southerly winds will return, warming us up with highs back in the 70s to start next week.