Pretty good weekend

Two seasons in one week. From July to October in 4 days. Welcome to September in Minnesota.

State Fair time brings a wide variety of weather to Minnesota, and we got it all this week. At least it has never snowed at the Fair!

We hit 94 degrees on Sunday and 92 on Monday in the metro. The high on Friday was just 61 degrees, and with the gusty NW winds it felt more like the upper 40s and low 50s.

That's a 33 degree temps drop in just one week. We've gone from tank tops to stadium blankets in the course of four days.

Friday's high of 61 was the coldest day in nearly 4 months in the metro. The last time we were this cool was on May 13th when the mercury managed just 53 degrees.

Weekend weather improves.

Just in time for the weekend.

High pressure will build in this weekend in Minnesota. The result will be more sun, less wind and warmer temps.

Here's the breakdown:

Saturday: Mostly sunny and a bit breezy. Highs in the 60s north to near 70 south. NW wind 10-20mph, fading in the late afternoon.

Sunday: The best day of the weekend? Mostly sunny. Light winds. Highs upper 60s north and 70s south.

Labor Day: Sun early gives way to clouds PM. Chance of showers and thunderstorms from west (AM/PM) to east (PM/evening). Breezy. Highs 60s north to 70 south, Wind SE increasing to 12-22 mph.

Summer lovers will be happy that it looks like temps push 80 again next week.

(click for bigger image)

MPR Weather at the Fair:

It was great to be a part of the Morning Edition team with Cathy Wurzer, Mark Seeley, and Morning Edition producers Jim Bickal and Curtis Gilbert today. Thanks to all the great fans that stopped by to say hello.

Some of you commented on the amazing cloud formations Thursday evening. The cold front blew through the metro around 6pm Thursday night. As the front came through, it triggered a broken line of low topped thundershowers that pelted parts of the metro with downpours and even small hail. Here are two photos I snapped as the front blew through.

Cumulonimbus anvil west of Bennett Park in Minnetonka.

(Photos by Paul Huttner. Click for bigger image)

Mamatus clouds on the back side of thundershower over Minneapolis.

All Things Considered Host Tom Crann and I will be at the MPR booth at the corner of Judson and Nelson from 11am to 1pm Saturday. Please stop by and say hello!

Here are a couple of pics form the Fair today.

A crowded Carnes Ave. under a gray sky and a brisk breeze Friday.

Molly C. serves up some cookies at Sweet Martha's. It was her first day at work. (Hey boss, she did a great job.)

And finally one gratuitous sunset shot from Lake Minnetonka Tuesday evening.

Gale Island soaks up the sunset as sun peeks through broken cumulus clouds.

Have a great holiday weekend!

PH