Shower and thunderstorm chances
I can't think of any part of Minnesota that needs rain right now.
Northern Minnesota has received ample summer rains, and many spots in central and southern Minnesota are water-logged.
Parts of southern Minnesota, southward from far southern Dakota county, are under a flood warning until 8 a.m. tomorrow:
Here are the details from the Twin Cities NWS:
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NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
802 AM CDT FRI SEP 23 2016
MNC037-049-079-131-147-161-241300-
/O.NEW.KMPX.FA.W.0011.160923T1302Z-160924T1300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
STEELE MN-DAKOTA MN-RICE MN-GOODHUE MN-WASECA MN-LE SUEUR MN-
802 AM CDT FRI SEP 23 2016
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A
* FLOOD WARNING FOR...
NORTHWESTERN STEELE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
SOUTHEASTERN DAKOTA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
RICE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
SOUTHWESTERN GOODHUE COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA...
NORTHEASTERN WASECA COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
SOUTHEASTERN LE SUEUR COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
* UNTIL 800 AM CDT SATURDAY
* AT 755 AM CDT...FLOODING CONTINUES ON THE STRAIGHT AND CANNON
RIVERS AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES. THE STRAIGHT RIVER CRESTED YESTERDAY
IN OWATONNA...WITH ITS FLOOD CREST NOW IN FARIBAULT. THE CANNON
RIVER WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY RISE IN NORTHFIELD TODAY BEFORE
CRESTING TONIGHT AT A STAGE LEVEL A LITTLE OVER 900 FEET. CANNON
FALLS WILL CONTINUE TO SEE RISES THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING WITH ITS
EXPECTED CREST TO OCCUR NEAR 18 FEET.
* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
OWATONNA...FARIBAULT...NORTHFIELD...WASECA...CANNON FALLS...
WATERVILLE...KENYON...DUNDAS...MEDFORD...STANTON...
MORRISTOWN AND ELYSIAN.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING. ALL
INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS IMMEDIATELY.
The Twin Cities NWS will update the watches and warnings as we go through the day.
Thunderstorm chances
Scattered showers, and a few isolated thunderstorms, could develop over Minnesota today.
More widespread showers and thunderstorms are possible late Saturday afternoon into Saturday night as a warm front pushes north:
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale 4 km resolution forecast model shows the general rain pattern today through Sunday morning:
There is a potential for some strong to severe thunderstorms late Saturday afternoon into Saturday evening.
The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service shows a marginal risk of severe weather Saturday through Saturday over much of central and southern Minnesota:
A marginal risk means that an isolated severe thunderstorm is possible.
Warmer Saturday
Highs could pop into the lower 80s over southwestern Minnesota tomorrow, with 70s common elsewhere:
Many spots in the Twin Cities will see upper 70s, maybe even an 80 on a few unofficial bank thermometers.
60s will linger over northeastern Minnesota.
A cold front sweeps through early on Sunday, so highs in the 60s will be common:
The Twin Cities will have highs in the low to mid 60s Monday and Tuesday, then around 70 Wednesday.
Fall colors
The latest Minnesota fall color report from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shows some areas of very good fall color over northern Minnesota right now:
A Wisconsin fall color report is also available.
Programming note
You can hear live weather updates at 7:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday on Minnesota Public Radio.