Showers into Friday AM; Saturday rain & thunder; Monday SNOW?

In the Desert Southwest there's an old saying.

"You're as welcome as rain."

What may seem like an insult to Minnesotans is actually a compliment in the desert. Rain is so scarce; it's welcome just about any time.

That's how it feels in Minnesota lately.

Doppler is lighting up with scattered rain showers overnight into Friday morning.

-Latest Sioux Falls radar loop

-Latest Twin Cities radar loop

The system is spinning in form the west, and most of the models indicate between .25" and .50" in Minnesota backyards by Friday afternoon. A few of the luckier spots (me please?) may soak up .75" under some heavier downpours early Friday morning.

Counting every drop:

We'll take every drop we can get these days. According to Thursday's updated U.S. Drought Monitor, a full 99% of Minnesota is in some stage of dryness or drought.

Source: NOAA/USDA

Second wave Saturday & Saturday night?

A second system could trigger more showers and some thunder Saturday & Saturday night. If we're lucky, we may get some decent downpours.

decent soaking rains by Sunday?

Source: wxcaster.com

Severe risk south?

SPC brings a slight risk right up to the MN/IA border Saturday and a moderate risk for Oklahoma and Kansas. We could see a significant severe outbreak in the central plains into Iowa Saturday.

Source: NOAA/SPC

Monday SNOW: Are you kidding me?

Nope!

The GFS is adamant that another, colder low pressure system will spin north Monday, and temps will be borderline cold enough for a cold rain....or a wet snow.

Source: ISU

At this point I'll leave it to others to go screaming with headlines about accumulation, but a decent slushy April coating of white is not out of the question Monday in the metro and central Minnesota.

Source: wxcaster.com

This shouldn't be a big shocker, the metro averages 3.1" of snow in a "typical" April.

As we say in the weather biz...stay tuned!

PH