Showers and thunderstorms at times, severe weather is possible

Some severe thunderstorms are possible today and tonight, so listen to Minnesota Public Radio and keep your NOAA weather radio nearby. It's a good idea to keep track of which county you are in if you are traveling, since warnings are issued by county.

A low pressure system and trailing cold front will ignite thunderstorms over Minnesota.

Here is the forecast rainfall pattern, today through Saturday, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale Forecast System (NAM):

The strongest thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening.

The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service shows a slight risk of severe weather today and tonight over most of the southern half of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro area:

Much of western Wisconsin is also in the slight risk area.

What exactly does a "slight risk" of severe weather mean?

Here are definitions of the various risk categories used by the Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service:

Here is a summary of our local severe weather threat:

Cool Saturday

A low pressure system brings periods of showers to northeastern Minnesota and much of Wisconsin on Saturday, with a smaller shower chance elsewhere in Minnesota:

It will be breezy and cool on Saturday, with highs in the 60s over most of Minnesota. Some spots in southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, could touch 70.

We'll have some sunshine on Sunday, and warmer high temperatures in most spots:

Northeastern Minnesota locations will top out in the 60s.

Programming note

We keep you updated on the weather 7 days a week.

You can hear my live weather updates weekend mornings at 7:35 a.m. on Minnesota Public Radio.