One last taste of summer? Minnesota’s fall colors steal the show
Fall foliage is hitting its peak across northern Minnesota
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Minnesota is heading into a picture-perfect fall weekend for getting outside and enjoying the changing leaves. With temperatures expected to climb into the 80s on Saturday and remain unusually warm on Sunday. We’ll see cooler weather return next week.
Northern Minnesota is putting on a show
Saturday is shaping up to be remarkably warm for October, with temperatures potentially reaching near-record levels in the 80s. Those temperatures are 15-25 degrees above our seasonal average.
That warmth will make it comfortable to spend hours outdoors, whether you're hiking through a state park, stopping at scenic overlooks, or taking a drive to see the fall foliage.
However, it won't feel entirely like a calm autumn day. Winds are expected to increase through Saturday afternoon, with gusts potentially reaching around 40 mph in parts of western Minnesota, particularly near the Buffalo Ridge area.
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This will be one of those weekends when you want to get outside as much as possible, knowing temperatures like these likely won’t return until late next spring. With highs climbing into the 80s on Saturday and Sunday, Minnesota is getting one last taste of summer in the heart of fall color season.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ latest fall foliage map is showing an explosion of color across northern Minnesota, with many areas at or near peak foliage and some already past peak.
From the North Shore to the forests of northern Minnesota, the fall scenery is putting on quite a show. And you don’t have to travel far to enjoy it. Wherever you choose to drive this weekend, Minnesota’s autumn colors will be ready to show off.
A cold front is expected to move through the Upper Midwest late Sunday into Monday. Cooler temperatures will slowly progress through the state on Sunday with 50s expected in northwestern Minnesota. Well-above-average temperatures will persist across southern Minnesota, where highs in the 70s and even 80s will once again be possible.
Following the weekend warmth, temperatures are expected to settle back toward seasonal levels, with highs generally in the upper 50s to mid-60s after the early-week cold front.
