Seasonal to slightly cool temps; heavy rain for some areas Wednesday and Thursday
The Monday high temperature at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was 81 degrees, and it happened before noon.
A few minutes after 2 p.m. the temperature at MSP airport dropped into the 60s as thunderstorms moved through the area.
The thunderstorms caused wind gusts in the 45 mph to 55 mph range in parts of the metro area.
There were reports of many trees and powerlines down in Northfield (Rice county) around 2:10 p.m. Monday. A few minutes later, Eagan, Lakeville and Rosemount (Dakota county) all reported some trees and powerlines down.
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The National Weather Service also relayed additional reports of severe weather in Rice county:
Thunderstorms at times
Thunderstorms lingered in parts of southeastern Minnesota Monday evening. Forecast models show that an additional batch of scattered showers and thunderstorms will move through the southern half of Minnesota overnight Monday night.
Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and updates are also posted on the MPR News live weather blog.
Here's how rain chances look over the next few days:
The best chance of showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday will be in far southern Minnesota, but the Twin Cities metro area could see a passing afternoon shower or thunderstorm.
Periods of showers and thunderstorms are likely in the Twin Cities metro area and about the southern half of Minnesota Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Most of Minnesota will have periods of rain with embedded thunderstorms Wednesday night into Thursday.
Our rain totals from Monday evening to late Thursday could look like this:
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential rain pattern Tuesday through Thursday:
Temperature trends
Tuesday highs are expected to reach the lower 70s in the Twin Cities metro area and southeastern Minnesota, with 60s elsewhere:
Similar highs are on tap for Wednesday.
Our average high temperature is only 71 degrees this time of year in the Twin Cities, but these temps will feel cool compared to the lower 90s of this past weekend.
Twin Cities highs are projected to reach the lower 70s on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, with upper 60s on Friday.
Record rainfall from Florence
Hurricane Florence, and its successor tropical storm and tropical cyclone, have led to a new North Carolina rainfall record:
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.