Periods of rain, possibly a few thunderstorms; best rain chance shifts south on Sunday
You'll want to have a "plan B" for your outdoor activities today.
Periods of rain are a good bet for most of Minnesota this Saturday, with a few embedded thunderstorms at times.
The Twin Cities metro area could see a break in the rain around mid afternoon, with another batch of showers and thunderstorms possible late this afternoon and this evening.
Severe weather risk
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Minnesota could see a few severe thunderstorms today and tonight:
The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service shows a slight risk of severe weather today and tonight for much of Minnesota (area shaded yellow in the graphic above) and a marginal risk of severe weather for the Twin Cities metro area and much of the southeast, plus western Wisconsin.
Slight risk indicates scattered severe thunderstorms are possible, marginal risk indicates isolated severe thunderstorms are possible:
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Noon update
The latest update from SPC shows the Twin Cities metro area and most of Minnesota in a marginal risk of severe weather this afternoon and tonight, with a slight risk of severe weather in parts of northern Minnesota:
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Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and updates are also posted on the MPR News live weather blog.
Temperature trends
Minnesota highs will range from the upper 70s to lower 80s Saturday afternoon.
The timing and location of clouds and thunderstorms will affect high temps.
On Sunday, most of our favorite state will have highs in the 80s:
The Twin Cities metro area should see highs in the lower 80s Monday and Tuesday, probably followed by mid 80s Wednesday through Friday.
Our average Twin Cities high temp is 82 degrees this time of year.
Sunday rain chance
On Sunday, far southern Minnesota will have the best chance of showers and thunderstorms.
The Twin Cities metro area could see an early morning shower, followed by a chance of an afternoon and evening shower or thunderstorm.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential rain pattern Sunday through Sunday night:
Storm damage in Meeker county
The NWS Storm Prediction Center lists these Friday evening wind damage reports in Meeker and Kandiyohi counties:
The times in the far left column are in Universal time, which is 5 hours ahead of CDT. So, 2340 is 23:40 minus 5 hours, or 18:40. That translates to 6:40 p.m. CDT.
This funnel cloud was spotted in Swift county Friday evening:
The National Weather Service is sending a meteorologist to Meeker and Kandiyohi counties today to survey the Friday evening storm damage.
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.