Storms likely Friday, then a mostly lovely weekend

It has certainly been a gorgeous Friday across most of Minnesota, and temperatures have been close to their June normals for a change.

There has been some precipitation ranging across the state, however.  Thunderstorms have been cruising the north between Duluth and International Falls on their way to Ely and the Boundary Waters.  Meanwhile, scattered light showers are dampening the ground between Brainerd and Bemidji.  Satellite photos showing the building tops above the storms.

This evening, thunderstorms are expected to spread from South Dakota into southwestern Minnesota.  Some storms could become severe in that part of the state.  In fact, The Storm Prediction Center has a slight risk area for severe weather extending from west central to south central Minnesota.

Showers and thunderstorms are likely to slide through the metro area overnight tonight, mainly after 10 p.m., but are not expected to be severe.

Saturday should be a mostly dry day statewide, except for the extreme south.  Some thunderstorms are likely along the Interstate 90 corridor and then into west central Wisconsin.  A few isolated storms could develop as far north as the metro area with the best chance being in the southern suburbs, but plan on just partly cloudy skies for the most part.  High temperatures should reach into the upper 70s most everywhere and just into the low 80s in the Twin Cities.

Here is the big picture nationwide:

Sunday will be a fine Father's Day.  A few afternoon showers will pop up in the far north, but farther to the south any showers or storms for the metro area should hold off until Sunday night.

Putting it all together for the nation for the next 48 hours until Sunday evening gives us this rainfall forecast:

Out east, the weather should be generally dry for the rest of the U.S. Open golf tournament near Philadelphia until Sunday afternoon when showers and storms might threaten.