Sunday heat could usher in strong thunderstorms by afternoon

MPR meteorologist Bill Endersen writes:

The east-west warm front that spent Saturday in Iowa will lift slowly into Minnesota overnight. Expect widespread low clouds, light rain, drizzle and some scattered showers and maybe thunderstorms during the dark hours. Some rainfall could become heavy well after sunset. Severe weather with hail is a possibility but not terribly likely.

Sunday: The warm front will lift northward through the metro area Sunday morning. Behind it a hot and muggy wind from the south-southeast will develop by late morning. Expect high temperatures in the low 90s and dew points well into the 60's across the southern half of Minnesota. It will be much cooler across northern Minnesota beyond the reaches of the warm front. Duluth, Grand Rapids and Ely will have highs just in the 60s. In between, Brainerd should reach about 80.

Strong thunderstorms will develop across western Minnesota Sunday afternoon and spread into the eastern part of the state by late afternoon or evening. An advancing cold front from the west will give these storms an energy boost, so the combination heat, moisture, cold front and upper level support are likely to create severe storms. So expect severe weather Watches and Warnings beginning in the afternoon. The most likely time for severe weather in the metro area will be after about 5 p.m.

Memorial Day: Monday looks a pleasant day. After a slight chance of an early-morning shower, expect fair weather with cooler temperatures and a breeze that will become gusty from the west by afternoon.