Sunnier, drier, milder days ahead; safe to plant now?

Just what the weather doctor ordered.

Today's rare sun sighting is a preview of coming forecast attractions. The persistent gray swirl that produced a snowy stripe here and tornadoes in the south slowly slides east. The massive storm stretches over 2,000 miles from eastern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

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Water vapor loop via College of Dupage.

Drier days ahead

The overall weather pattern looks drier and much warmer. Check out the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Global Forecast System model for the next week. Wednesday's passing rain showers look minor. Then the maps look mainly dry from Thursday until at least next Tuesday.

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NOAA GFS via tropical tidbits.

Back to average

Temperatures rebound closer to average early May levels in the next week. A more stable spring weather pattern unfolds with highs in the 60s.

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NOAA via Weather Bell.

70s to near 80 next week?

Temperatures may soar even higher next week. The upper air pattern suggests an amplified upper air ridge, a bubble of warm air over the Upper Midwest by next Wednesday and Thursday.

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NOAA

NOAA's uber long range GFS 16-day temperatures guidance cranks out 70s, even low 80s for the Twin Cities by Wednesday May 10.

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NOAA GFS data via IPS Meteostar.

Safe to plant?

The overall pattern looks favorable to suggest we may have seen our last 32 degree temperature of spring at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The last observed 32 degree temp at MSP was on April 27.

I can't rule more frost north of the Twin Cities, but the chances for another 32 degree temp at MSP are dropping dramatically. I can't be 100 percent certain of this, but looking at the maps I assess there's a 90 percent chance we have already seen our last 32-degree temp at MSP and in the inner metro urban core.

Historically there is a 90 percent chance that the last 32 degree temp at MSP will occur by May 10.

Stay tuned.