No Foolin’: Fire threat today, rain Friday

Twin Cities NWS weather story highlights warm temps and increased fire danger.

If this is Mother Nature's April fools joke, I'll take it. Get ready for June like temperatures on April 1st.

A warm front sitting in northern Iowa will surge north today, pumping June like air into southern Minnesota this afternoon. As it moves north, gusty southeast winds will kick up, and relative humidity will drop. The combination of warm temps, gusty winds and low humidity will create perfect conditions for grass and brush fires this afternoon. Any fires that start today will be fanned by winds of 15-25 mph this afternoon and evening.

Temperatures should reach the upper 70s in most of southern Minnesota, with upper 60s to near 70 pushing into the far north. The incoming air mass is warm enough that I would not be shocked to see 80 degrees in southeast Minnesota this afternoon, and maybe in the southeast metro to near Red Wing.

A cold front will push in from the west Friday. As it does, expect a line of showers and possible thunderstorms to develop in central Minnesota Friday PM, and push east into the Twin Cities by late afternoon into Friday evening. It appears the storms may stay below severe limits, but downpours, lighting, thunder and gusty winds are possible.

NOAA Rainfall forecast hints at a band of .50" to 1" rainfall possible in eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin as we head into the weekend.

It looks like the potential for .50" to .75" of rainfall is there with this frontal system for parts of eastern Minnesota this weekend as the front slides through. A more potent system may bring more widespread soaking rainfall and possible even some snow to much of Minnesota next Tuesday.

Enjoy our third consecutive day of early summer like warmth today!

PH