Perfect timing: Weekend sunshine, 60s and 70s return next week
Timing is everything.
If weather was a democracy, would we all vote for sunny weekends? My guess is sunny weekends and rain during the week would carry "weather elections" in a landslide.
Weather timing is finally good this weekend. A few clouds may drift by from time to time, but you may see some stunned Minnesotans looking up at a strange bright object in the blue sky. And smiling.
A weak low pressure trough swings through northern Minnesota with a few showers Saturday. Other than that, it looks like a dry weekend across most of Minnesota.
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Temps will hover in the 50s across most of the state this weekend. Not bad after a week of 30s and 40s.
More good news? Your hyperactive sump pump get some rest.
I've heard of many flooded basements this week. If your house is dry after living in a car wash with 3 to 5 inch rains, something is very right with your gutters, roof and drainage systems.
We may actually string together three mostly dry days from Saturday through Monday. What a concept.
Much warmer next week
Temps will run a good 20 to 30 degrees warmer next week than this past week. High in the 60s will feel better, and temps may reach 70 by Wednesday or Thursday.
That often comes with a price in spring, and scattered thunderstorms reappear in the forecast as the next low pressure wave spins in Wednesday and Thursday.
Look for scattered storms in the forecast with lightning, thunder and more rain. We'll have to keep one eye out for a few strong to marginally severe storms.
More 70s?
There are signs that spring like weather, and even some more 70s may hang into next weekend and early the following week.
Here's the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Global Forecast System, which is pretty optimistic about another shot of 70s.
Debris balls and dual polarized Doppler.
It was great to visit with one of the most accomplished severe weather researchers on the planet this week, Harold Brooks from NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory.
Here's the full discussion on MPR News with Brooks, Kerri Miller and yours truly.
We covered a lot of ground, and one of the topics that came up was the advances in dual polarization Doppler technology. Here's an admittedly cheesy video from NOAA on what the transition to "dual pol" has brought to severe weather forecasting.