Windy warm Saturday, thundery downpours Sunday

Spring lunges forward this weekend. Warm winds blow in the first 70-degree temperatures in five months Saturday. By Sunday, the sky resembles early June.

Billowing cloud towers capable of thundery downpours roam the landscape. Severe weather crawls may glide across the bottom of your TV screen during Masters final round action.

It's a weekend split for weather in Minnesota.

Balmy Saturday breezes

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We awake to stiff south winds Saturday across Minnesota. But late in the afternoon, the pressure gradient relaxes and winds should ease as we head toward Saturday evening. At that time, the warmest wedge of air, called the thermal ridge, slides over Minnesota. That should give us a late day temp surge. Temperatures in the mid 70s are likely for the Twin Cities Saturday afternoon, and they could surge higher late in the day.

Conditions look just right for 80s in southwest Minnesota Saturday. A few bank thermometers in the southwest metro may get close to flashing 80 degrees around 5 p.m. Saturday.

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NOAA

First 70 at MSP? Right on schedule

April 9 is the average date of the first 70 degree temp of the season at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The average date for the first 80 degree temp is April 30.

Temps return to April reality next week.

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NOAA

Too early to plant petunias?

Yes, it's probably still too early to plant those petunias. Unless you plan to cover them on potentially frosty nights ahead.

Sunday rain and thunder

An almost June-looking low-pressure storm invades Minnesota Sunday and Monday. Look for scattered showers to build Sunday. A few may produce thunder and locally heavy downpours.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's NAM 3 km resolution model picks up on the notion of multiple convective clusters pushing northeast Sunday and Sunday night.

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NOAA via topical tidbits

Soaking rains Sunday

Sunday's system has the capability to drop some locally heavy downpours. Widespread one-half inch to 1 inch rainfall totals look likely. Pockets of heavier multi-inch rainfall are possible.

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NOAA NAM model rainfall output via College of Dupage.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts cranks out a totals of 1.5 inches rainfall for MSP Sunday and Monday.

Severe risk Sunday

A few storms Sunday may approach severe limits across southern Minnesota. A few metro storms could spawn heavy downpours, gusty winds and hail.

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NOAA

Much needed rainfall

We've been running dry around Minnesota this spring. The rain will help boost the spring green up.

High fire danger

Saturday's warm and windy conditions on top of dry brush will produce active fire weather behavior conditions.

Sunday's soaking rains should help reduce the fire threat.

Life at 410 ppm

Iceberg dead ahead!

Sweet irony to some?

Climate Cast: Climate change and heavier rainfall

University of St. Thomas professor John Abraham and I elaborated on the latest climate science news this week.

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