Metro thunderstorms linger into early afternoon, then steamy with a thunderstorm chance

You might have to have a backup plan for your outdoor activities this weekend.

It's going to be a soggy Saturday morning and early afternoon for much of southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area.  Spots that see the most thunderstorm activity could see some localized flooding. Southern Minnesota and the metro area could see scattered thunderstorms redevelop later this afternoon and this evening.

Elsewhere, central and northern Minnesota could see scattered thunderstorms this Saturday morning, with more numerous thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.

Additional periods of thunderstorms are expected in Minnesota and western Wisconsin overnight and on Sunday.

Severe weather risk

The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service shows a slight risk of severe weather for the Twin Cities metro area and points to the west and east of the metro today and tonight:

Slight risk means that scattered severe thunderstorms are possible.

To the north, including the Duluth area, there is an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms today and tonight.

Enhanced risk means that numerous severe thunderstorms are possible:

The SPC categorical outlook shows a chance of a tornado in the enhanced risk area today and tonight:

On Sunday, the Twin Cities metro area and much of central and southern Minnesota are in a slight risk category for severe weather:

Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and updates are also posted on the MPR News live weather blog.

This will be a good weekend to have your NOAA weather radio or mobile phone nearby for weather warnings.

Travelers will want to be aware of which county they are in, because weather warning headlines typically list the county or counties being warned.

Heat warnings and advisories

The Twin Cities metro area and much of southern Minnesota will see hot afternoon temperatures this weekend.

The excessive heat warning for the metro area continues through early Sunday evening, and much of southern Minnesota has a heat advisory:

Details of the excessive heat warning for the metro area:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

644 AM CDT Sat Jun 16 2018

MNZ060>063-068>070-162000-

/O.CON.KMPX.EH.W.0002.000000T0000Z-180618T0100Z/

Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Carver-Scott-Dakota-

Including the cities of Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater,

Chaska, Shakopee, and Hastings

644 AM CDT Sat Jun 16 2018

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT

SUNDAY...

* TEMPERATURE...High temperatures in the lower 90s will combine

with high humidity to yield peak heat indices in the 98 to 103

range this afternoon and again Sunday afternoon. In addition,

low temperatures tonight will only fall into the mid or upper

70s which will not allow for comfortable cooling.

* IMPACTS...Heat illnesses are possible for those active

outdoors or those susceptible to heat illnesses, such as

children and the elderly.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take extra precautions...if you work or spend time outside. When

possible...reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or

evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat

stroke. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing when

possible and drink plenty of water.

To reduce risk during outdoor work...the occupational safety and

health administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks

in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by

heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke

is an emergency...call 9 1 1.

An Excessive Heat Warning means that a prolonged period of

dangerously hot temperatures will occur. The combination of hot

temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous

situation in which heat illnesses are likely. Drink plenty of

fluids...stay in an air-conditioned room...stay out of the sun...

and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Young children and pets should never be left unattended in

vehicles under any circumstances. This is especially true during

warm or hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal

temperatures in a matter of minutes.

Here are some southern Minnesota heat advisory details:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

644 AM CDT Sat Jun 16 2018

MNZ076>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ024-162000-

/O.CON.KMPX.HT.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-180618T0100Z/

Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-Martin-

Faribault-Freeborn-Pierce-

Including the cities of Le Sueur, Faribault, Red Wing, St James,

Mankato, Waseca, Owatonna, Fairmont, Blue Earth, Albert Lea,

River Falls, and Prescott

644 AM CDT Sat Jun 16 2018

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT SUNDAY...

* TEMPERATURE...High temperatures in the lower 90s will combine

with high humidity to yield peak heat indices in the 98 to 103

range this afternoon and again Sunday afternoon. In addition,

low temperatures tonight will only fall into the mid 70s which

will not allow for comfortable cooling.

* IMPACTS...Heat illnesses are possible for those active

outdoors or those susceptible to heat illnesses, such as

children and the elderly.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Heat Advisory means that a period of hot temperatures is

expected. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity

will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are

possible. Drink plenty of fluids...stay in an air-conditioned

room...stay out of the sun...and check up on relatives and

neighbors.

Take extra precautions...if you work or spend time outside. When

possible...reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or

evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat

stroke. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing when

possible and drink plenty of water.

To reduce risk during outdoor work...the occupational safety and

health administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks

in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by

heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke

is an emergency...call 9 1 1.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke have these symptoms:

Here are some heat safety tips:

Flash flood watch northeast

There's a flash flood watch this weekend through Monday morning in parts of northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin:

Some potential rainfall totals:

Here are the flash flood watch details:

National Weather Service Duluth MN

414 AM CDT Sat Jun 16 2018

...HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND FOR PORTIONS

OF THE NORTHLAND...

.There will be a bit of a break in the precipitation across the

Northland this morning, but showers and thunderstorms are expected

to become widespread again as the day wears on. In fact, several

rounds of showers and thunderstorms can be expected into Monday

morning. Several inches of rain had fallen across the Northland on

Friday, especially in portions of northern Wisconsin. Additional

rainfall amounts are expected to be in the 2 to 4 inch range from

today into Monday morning, with locally higher amounts possible.

The risk for flash flooding will increase throughout the weekend.

If you live in flood prone areas, such as near rivers and streams,

be sure to remain alert for possible flash flood warnings.

MNZ019-035>038-161715-

/O.EXT.KDLH.FF.A.0001.000000T0000Z-180618T1800Z/

/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

Central St. Louis-Northern Aitkin-South Aitkin-

Carlton/South St. Louis-Pine-

Including the cities of Hibbing, Hill City, Aitkin, Duluth,

Pine City, and Hinckley

414 AM CDT Sat Jun 16 2018

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...

The Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for

* Portions of east central Minnesota and northeast Minnesota,

including the following areas, in east central Minnesota,

Northern Aitkin, Pine, and South Aitkin. In northeast

Minnesota, Carlton/South St. Louis and Central St. Louis.

* Through Monday afternoon

* There will be a break in the precipitation this morning, but

showers and thunderstorms will again become likely as the day

wears on. In fact, several rounds of showers and thunderstorms

are expected to move across the Northland through midday Monday.

Several inches of rain had fallen across portions of northeast

Minnesota, and we could see another 2 to 4 inches of rain

through midday Monday.

* The heavy rainfall is expected to result in at least minor

flooding to roads and cause rises on rivers and streams.

Potential exists for significant flooding to occur. Those

traveling through Monday afternoon should be vigilant as some

roads may be covered with water or completely washed out.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead

to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action

should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.