Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

State Fair forecast: Rain wraps up just as the fair is opening for business

Damaging wind potential
Here is the swath of potential severe winds early Wednesday morning from the overnight convective complex. The Interstate 90 corridor is the bull's-eye across America.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via WeatherBELL Analytics

High winds will move across southern Minnesota early Wednesday, likely including the Minnesota State Fair. After that, we have a quiet day with comfortable temperatures and humidity plus increasing sunshine.

Early Wednesday storms

You might hear some rumbles near the State Fair early Wednesday unrelated to all the rides that have been wowing thousands of fair patrons for days. We have some early morning strong-to-severe thunderstorms moving west to east.

Those storms could pack really heavy rains and even some damaging winds in the predawn hours Wednesday. These should wrap up well before most people get to the fairgrounds.

Storm timing overnight
Here is the timing for the damaging wind threat and heavy rain producer for late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning.
NOAA, via WeatherBell Analytics

What makes Wednesday’s weather really interesting is that while we will be cooler during the afternoon hours, the humidity is just as high. Normally, you see both the humidity and afternoon temperatures drop behind the front, but not this time around.

Dew points still appear to hover around 70 pretty much all day, thanks to a light and variable wind. In a typical frontal scenario, winds will move to out of the northwest and will push drier air to the southeast.

We also expect more sunshine in the afternoon as we continue to dry out.

High temps Wednesday
Wednesday afternoon temperatures cool behind a weaker cold front.
NOAA, via WeatherBell Analytics