Finally Fall: Blustery Monday, excellent Ryder Cup forecast

Welcome to the last week of...September.

How did that happen anyway?

Our atmosphere has finally kicked into fall mode across the Upper Midwest. A gusty northwest wind reminds us today that the calendar is about to flip to October this weekend. New weather words like blustery and crisp appear on your local weathercast this week. Fall colors kick into high gear as temperatures dip into the lower 40s, even upper 30s up north this week.

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Minnesota DNR

The best piece of weather news for flood weary Minnesotans come in the form of a big blue "H" on the weather maps. High pressure brings mostly sunny and dry weather as the week unfolds. Most of Minnesota strings together 6 to 7 dry days in a row, a rare feat in this wettest year on record so far for many Minnesota locations.

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Bring on October.

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Blustery Monday

A refreshing northwest breeze gusts to over 30 mph today across Minnesota. Temperatures hover in the 50s with rain showers up north, but most most of Minnesota enjoys sun today with highs in the lower 60s.

Low pressure swirls over southern Canada to the Great lakes early this week. Minnesota rides the gusty west side of that low through Tuesday. A passing spritz is possible Tuesday, but rainfall totals will not significantly affect falling river levels across the state.

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NOAA

Excellent drying conditions

The timing is perfect for drying out this week. Most of Minnesota will string together 6 to 7 dry days in a row. Throw in sunshine and dry breezes and soils should have a chance to finally dry out by late week. The Twin Cities NWS uses up all the sun symbols in the weather drawer this week.

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Twin Cities NWS

Rivers cresting

All that water from last week's flash flood event is still working its way though the system. The Minnesota River crests southwest of the Twin Cities this week.

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Ryder Cup forecast: Almost perfect

Minnesota's weather plays center stage for the world this week.

A quarter of a million spectators converge on Chaska for The Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National. A television audience in the hundreds of millions worldwide will watch the event.

I had an early look at conditions at Hazeltine yesterday, and I'm amazed at the excellent course conditions given the sheer amount of rainfall in that past few weeks.

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The 18th green at Hazeltine National Sunday. Paul Huttner/MPR News.

I spoke with Kevin Smith from the PGA of America Sunday. He tells me they had some minor storm damage to a couple of the tents last week which was quickly repaired. Hazeltine national looks like a small city with the number of tents on site for the event. The large and impressive Media Center was quiet Sunday. That will change rapidly this week.

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Ryder Cup Media Center. Paul Huttner/MPR News

Right now weather conditions look excellent for the last two practice rounds, and for tournament play starting on Friday.

Ryder Cup Forecast

  • Today: Blustery and cool with mostly sunny skies. High 64. Wind NW 15-30 mph with gusts to near 40 mph.

  • Tuesday: Morning sun, passing afternoon showers possible. High 61. Wind NW 10-22 mph.

  • Wednesday: Sunny & crisp. less wind. High 65. Wind N 5-10 mph.

  • Thursday: Sunny & pleasant. High 68. Wind E 5 mph.

  • Friday: Sunny and pleasant. High 69. Wind E 5-12 mph.

  • Saturday: Mostly sunny & mild. High near 70. Wind SE 5-15 mph.

  • Sunday: Mixed sun & clouds. High near 72. Wind SE 8-18 mph.