Showers and thunderstorms are on their way
It's time for rain gauges to do their job. Showers and thunderstorms built in the Dakotas during the night. Now they are making their way across Minnesota.
For the southern half of Minnesota, Wednesday will bring two separate shots of rain. The first area of storms has already developed and has spread through west central and southwestern Minnesota.
That rain is moving to the east-northeast toward the Twin Cities area and should arrive by late morning. Any thunderstorms will be garden variety, so severe weather is unlikely.
Later today, solar heating will trigger another batch of thunderstorms from west to east across the southern half of the state. There is a marginal risk that some storms could become severe in southwestern Minnesota near South Dakota.
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The northern half of Minnesota will see a general scattering of showers and thunderstorms today. That means periods of rain for much of that area including very-dry northwestern Minnesota. More than an inch of rain could be on tap from the Brainerd Lakes area through Duluth to the Arrowhead.
Clouds and rain will hold the temperatures down today. Expect highs mostly in the 70s. The Twin Cities should reach about 77 with a south wind of 10 to 20 mph.
Lingering areas of rain Thursday
Lesser amounts of rain will fall tomorrow on the back of this weather system. The day is likely to start off with areas of rain in northern Minnesota that will spread southward toward the metro area during the day. Southwestern Minnesota has a good chance of a dry Thursday
Temperatures will be cooler than normal tomorrow with highs from the mid 60s to the mid 70s.
Great-looking Friday and weekend
Our two-day weather system will be out of here by Thursday night and give way to a lovely Friday with sunshine and high temperatures mostly in the 70s.
The weekend looks lovely as well. High temperatures will be in the 70s statewide and there will be just a chance of a few stray pop-up showers each afternoon.
Tropical Storm Franklin update
Tropical Storm Franklin crossed Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula yesterday and has been restrengthening over the Bay of Campeche overnight.
Currently, Franklin has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and is tracking westward at 13 mph. Franklin is forecast to continue to strengthen and reach hurricane strength today before reaching the east coast of Mexico in the state of Veracruz tonight. A hurricane warning has been posted for coastal areas in the path of the storm.
Torrential rains are likely in that portion of Mexico. Rainfalls of 4 to 8 inches will be widespread and some isolated amounts up to 15 inches are possible.