Temps ramp up, we could hit 80 on Thursday; soggy Saturday?

It's starting to feel like spring again, with highs well into the 60s. A few spots in western Minnesota even topped out in the 70s Monday afternoon.  Temperatures will continue to ramp up in most areas for a few more days.  I think you'll like the details!

Temperature trends

Tuesday highs should reach the lower 70s in about the southwestern half of Minnesota, with some mid 70s possible in the far southwest. I'm expecting mostly 60s in about the northeastern half of Minnesota.  The Twin Cities metro area should top out around 70, with a few spots creeping above 70. In case you're wondering, our average metro area high temp is 69 degrees this time of year.

Wednesday highs will be in the 70s in southern and central Minnesota, plus parts of the northwest:

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Some of us will have highs of 80 degrees or a bit above 80 on Thursday:

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Metro area highs retreat to the mid 70s on Friday.

Rain chances

  • Southwestern and south-central Minnesota could see some showers and an isolated thunderstorm late Monday night and Tuesday morning. A passing morning sprinkle is possible in the Twin Cities metro area.

  • Scattered showers and an isolated thunderstorm could spread across parts of northern and central Minnesota during the afternoon hours on Tuesday, and into the south Tuesday evening.

  • The Twin Cities metro area will have a chance of scattered showers/t-storms Wednesday night, Thursday afternoon and evening and also on Friday.

As always, updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and you’ll also see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.

Saturday is looking soggy across much of Minnesota and Wisconsin, with periods of rain and some embedded thunderstorms. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model shows the potential precipitation pattern Friday evening through Saturday evening:

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NOAA GFS precipitation rate (mm/hour) from Friday evening through Saturday evening, via tropicaltidbits

The color chart to the right of the loop refers to the precipitation rate (mm per hour), not to the total amount of rain.

Minnesota crop report

Our cool and wet spring has delayed crop planting in many parts of Minnesota.  Monday's Minnesota Crop Progress & Condition report from the USDA and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture states:

Minnesota farmers took advantage of the 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 12, 2019, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included hauling manure, spreading fertilizer, and planting. Planting progress was made for all crops in Minnesota, although much of the progress made came out of the northwestern part of the State having missed much of the precipitation that the rest of Minnesota received.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 1 percent short, 58 percent adequate and 40 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 56 percent adequate and 42 percent surplus.

Twenty-one percent of Minnesota’s corn was planted, 3 days behind the previous year and 15 days behind the five-year average. Soybeans were 3 percent planted, 2 weeks behind the average.

Over the past five years in Minnesota, an average of 60% to 70% of our corn has been planted by May 12:

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USDA/NASS/ Minnesota Department of Agriculture

The 21% figure for planted corn through May 12 this year is well below that average.

Planting may be delayed a bit longer in some areas if they receive soaking rains this coming weekend.