Sunny Thursday, October preview next week

Seasonal reality check

The summer of 2016 has been long and wet. Many Minnesota communities have bagged an extra month's worth of rain this summer. Rainfall at MSP Airport is running almost 5 inches above average so far this year. That puts us on pace to challenge the wettest year on record to date.

It seems as if we've been living in a car wash this summer. The good news for those who want dry skies? That bright light ahead on the weather maps may be door at the end of the car wash. The maps are leaning much drier and significantly cooler starting this weekend and lasting through most of next week. The season formerly know as autumn appears to be ready to make an appearance in Minnesota by next week.

Sunny Thursday

We come up for air in between weather systems Thursday. Friday's front is looking a little less dramatic, but may still produce some scattered showers and T-Storms. Note the big sprawling high pressure cell over the northern Rockies on the last map of the animation below Friday evening. That's the inbound signature of a nice sunny weekend.

Here's the Twin Cities forecast at a glance through the weekend. After spotty overnight storms tonight, only Friday brings a chance for more rain. The frequency of dry sunny days ahead is increasing.

A rare dry week?

It's been hard to string together 7 dry days in a row this year. We have a shot at doing that next week. Our upper air flow becomes more zonal, as a drier westerly flow sets up.

Right now I see little or no rainfall in the forecast starting Saturday through next Thursday. Overall the maps are leaning drier than average through mid-September across the Upper Midwest.

Taste of fall

Next week looks cool too. Highs in the 60s, and lows in the 40s will feel different by next Tuesday. Low humidity. Open windows. Fresh air. Fewer mosquitoes? Well, a guy can dream.

I won't be shocked to see some lows in the 30s up north next week. It is September after all.