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Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News
Ben Cathey

Severe storm potential Thursday and Friday

Afternoon storms could be more interrupting Thursday

severe weather risk june 4, 2026
Risk map for severe weather later Thursday. Yellow is risk level two out of five; dark green is level one, light green is general thunderstorms.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm Prediction Center

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Apart from a pretty unique storm report in Crookston in far northwestern Minnesota (see the Tasmanian Devil reference below) and some larger branches reported down in New Ulm in southern Minnesota, we were largely spared on Wednesday, the first of a three-day stretch of severe weather chances.

Thursday’s storms have a more inconvenient timeline for outdoor plans but we could really use the rain overall. See Mandy Thalhuber’s special Updraft drought update.

The most damage we had Wednesday
Quite the unique storm report that came in from far northwestern Minnesota on Wednesday.
National Weather Service

Humidity is remarkably higher as of late morning Thursday compared to the same time the day before. Thursday afternoon and evening will certainly feel more muggy even though temperatures are largely the same as the last few days.

Through roughly 5 p.m. we should be dry across Minnesota. Then we hit a storm threshold and things will begin to pop off around the Minnesota western border. That’s all from a remnant of Wednesday’s storms, along a mostly invisible frontal boundary.

These storms start off as individual cells before turning into a squal-ly line closer to 8 p.m.

Day one severe risk
Here is the larger risk map for later Thursday afternoon's potentially severe weather. Yellow is level two, dark green is level one, light green is general thunderstorms.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm Prediction Center

The newest data shows a bowing segment, which could produce damaging winds nearer to St. Cloud around dusk. Central Minnesota is the most prone for wind damage Thursday. This rolls out of here by early Friday morning.

We also know Friday and Saturday are huge days for outdoor high school graduations and other events. Storms are going to develop for the third day in a row near the Minnesota border with both Dakotas.

We’re at a level risk of two out of five for severe thunderstorms Friday in southern Minnesota but the rain is going to move out faster.

Day two severe weather risk
Friday severe storm risk map. Yellow is level two, dark green is level one, light green is general thunderstorms.
NOAA Storm Prediction Center

Saturday looks great; Monday may be a soaker

Onto the weekend, friends! We made it! We’ve got a stunner of a day to be out in the garden, Boundary Waters, lakes, you name it, Saturday.

Highs will be in the mid-80s with lower humidity behind the cold front. Sunday begins a two-day pattern shift. We’ll have clouds rolling in from Nebraska and Iowa with a small chance of rain in southern Minnesota Sunday.

Monday looks like exactly what we need right now, and that’s a soaker for rain.

Right now, many weather maps are going north of 60 to 70 percent coverage across the state and surrounding counties. Great news for farmers and gardeners.

Following that rainy day, we’re likely to roll into the nineties the following days. For many parts of the state, that could be the first 90-degree weather of the year.