A warm and unsettled week coming our way

Typical May weather is indeed headed in our direction. That means warmer temperatures and rounds of showers and thunderstorms as the atmosphere becomes unsettled.

Here is a quick look at the upcoming workweek:

Our week will begin with a lovely Monday all across the state. Decorative clouds will drift southeastward during the day. Afternoon high temperatures will range from the low 60s in a few cool pockets in the far north to some low 70s in the south.

The Twin Cities should warm to about 68 for the most part and with warmer spots touching 70. Winds will be light and generally from the south-southwest.

Warming trend

Warmer air spreading our way for the next few days will heat us considerably into Thursday. Highs on Thursday could warm into the low 80s from the Twin Cities to southwestern Minnesota.

And now for the unsettled part

A weak trough of low pressure will kick off scattered spring showers and thunderstorms Monday night and again on Tuesday.

Wednesday should play out to be mostly dry and even a little warmer than normal for mid May.

More scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely to break out from late Wednesday into Thursday morning.

Unfortunately for parts of mainly southern Minnesota with high stream levels and soggy soils, that warm air for Thursday will be on the leading edge of a slow-moving low pressure system from Colorado. Periods of numerous showers and thunderstorms from Friday through Saturday and into Sunday are likely to add significant water to soils that do not need it.

Some strong storms are possible across southern Minnesota on Friday and Saturday. Severe storms are not in the forecast at this time but cannot be ruled out.

As you can see below, much of Minnesota and Wisconsin will encompass one of the wetter parts of the country over the next week. Some rainfall totals could be in excess of two inches.

Cooler by Sunday

Look for cooler temperatures to arrive behind that low pressure system on Sunday and linger into next week.