Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Updraft® is your source for Minnesota forecasts and insights from our expert meteorologists Ben Cathey, Sven Sundgaard and Mandy Thalhuber.

MPR News brings you the latest weather outlook, across all of Minnesota, so you can be better prepared for your day.

August 18, 2026 5:20 PM

Minnesota weather: A chill in the August air

Don’t get too excited by the prospect of full autumn. Our little taste (complete with a few towns in the 30s) will quickly return to summery weather soon enough.

by Ben Cathey

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August 18, 2026 11:50 AM

A summer without enough rain: Minnesota’s dry summer is adding up

Minnesota has gone much of the summer without enough rain and the shortfall has become hard to ignore. Still, with fall ahead and the ground not freezing anytime soon, there’s time for the moisture situation to improve — as long as Mother Nature cooperates.

by Mandy Thalhuber

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August 18, 2026 5:46 AM

Lingering instability Tuesday with another chance of rain late week

Southern Minnesota will see some lingering instability with a few showers and thunderstorms Tuesday. Temperatures and dew points will dip midweek slightly.

by Sven Sundgaard

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August 17, 2026 3:00 PM

Ragweed rinsed by rain: Minnesota forecast

Goldenrod and ragweed are mainstays of August and September and are almost always spotted at the same time. Rain is coming in Monday afternoon and evening. For the Twin Cities — which has a lot of both plants sprouting up now — that rain will come a little before midnight.

by Ben Cathey

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August 17, 2026 11:20 AM

El Niño strengthens, raising new questions for Minnesota’s winter

A powerful El Niño is rapidly strengthening in the Pacific, raising the odds of a warmer and less snowy winter in Minnesota. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) now has greater than a 90 percent chance of the event persisting through the fall and winter.

by Mandy Thalhuber

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August 17, 2026 5:38 AM

Spotty thunder chances ahead of a cool front late Monday into Tuesday

A cool front will touch off some spotty storms for northern Minnesota Monday afternoon and statewide Monday night. High pressure builds in for Wednesday and Thursday.

by Sven Sundgaard

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August 16, 2026 4:31 PM

Seasonable weather holds this week with storm chances returning

Pleasant, seasonable weather will continue into Monday, with comfortable temperatures and lower humidity. However, showers and thunderstorms will return Monday night as our next weather system moves into the region.

by Mandy Thalhuber

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August 16, 2026 8:15 AM

Pleasant Sunday ahead with lower dew points and sunshine

Seasonal temperatures, increased sunshine and drier air for our Sunday before the next round of showers and thunderstorms arrives Monday night into Tuesday.

by Mandy Thalhuber

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August 15, 2026 4:55 PM

Scattered storms Saturday, brief break Sunday before more active weather arrives

Scattered to widely numerous showers and thunderstorms develop as a weak cold front pushes eastward from the Dakotas. Behind the front, Sunday brings sunshine and more comfortable dew points.

by Mandy Thalhuber