Sunny and delightful Friday; warm and wonderful on Saturday

Yes, the meteorological diagnosis is spring fever. And the recommended treatment is a few hours of outdoor time as soon as possible.

In case you are in a hurry to begin your treatment program, here are Friday's weather forecast highlights:

  • Sunny and delightfully seasonable

  • Warm and wonderful Saturday with a few light showers near Canada

  • A cold front will drag cooler air gradually south on Sunday and also trigger showers and maybe thunderstorms

  • Most of next week looks pleasant and mild

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Now a few pertinent details.

Friday

Dry high pressure building into the Upper Midwest will treat us to a very sunny Friday. Chilly morning temperatures will give way to a delightful afternoon. Look for highs mainly in the low to mid-60s. Cooler highs in the 50s are likely in the northeastern corner.

The Twin Cities will have a sunny high near 64 with a northwest wind of just 5-10 mph. The average high is 60.

While we are enjoying a kindly spring day, the severe weather outbreak that has pummeled the South the past two days will continue its dangerous advance into the southeastern and mid-Atlantic states.

Apr 19 - ltng
Lightning strikes at 7 a.m. on Friday. Vaisala Corp.

Numerous severe storms, including some with tornadoes, are expected, especially in the red moderate risk area from South Carolina to Virginia:

Apr 19 - svr
Severe weather is likely on Friday from the Southeast to the mid-Atlantic States. NOAA Storm Prediction Center

Saturday

Saturday will be the warm spring day we have been waiting for. Skies will be mostly sunny across the southern half of the state while the north will see increasing clouds. A few light showers are possible near Canada.

High temperatures should range from the mid-60s in the far north to the upper 70s in the southwest. I am forecasting a high of near 74 for the Twin Cities.

Easter Sunday

Sunday will be a day of transition as a cold front slides slowly southeastward across Minnesota. Temperatures will be warm again across southern Minnesota with afternoon highs well into the 70s again. Cooler highs from the upper 50s into the 60s will be found across the north.

The Twin Cities will likely warm quickly Sunday morning ahead of the front, probably into the low 70s, but then cool later in the day after the front passes.

Expect the front to trigger scattered showers and a few thunderstorms on Sunday. Severe weather is not expected.

Apr 19 - Sun fcst map
Forecast surface weather map for Sunday. NOAA Weather Prediction Center

Next week

Overall, next week looks like it will be quite pleasant. Showers are likely in southern Minnesota on Monday. Then we should have a dry spell from Tuesday through Thursday. Forecast models are predicting a scattering of showers and thunderstorms around the state next Friday.

After a slightly cool day on Monday, the rest of next week should be at least as warm as normal. For the Twin Cities, that means low temperatures mainly in the 40s and highs mainly in the 60s. The six-to-10-day temperature outlook is forecasting generally above normal temperatures for our area for the period April 24-28; that's next Wednesday through Sunday.

 

Apr 19 - 6 10 day temp outlook
6-10 day temperature outlook for April 24-28. NOAA Weather Prediction Center

Now, go watch some crocuses grow.