Rain returns; milder temps ahead

Our last measurable rain at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was last Friday. That means that we've had five consecutive mostly dry days, with just a few brief sprinkles thrown in at times.

That dry streak will end today.

A low-pressure system in South Dakota will track northeastward today and tonight, spreading showers and thunderstorms across Minnesota:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale 4 km resolution forecast model shows showers and thunderstorms increasing in coverage later this afternoon and tonight:

By Friday afternoon, rain activity will be more scattered on the back side of the low-pressure system

No dry spots

As you might imagine, our summer rains have left Minnesota without any drought issues. The U.S. Drought Monitor map released today shows that there aren't any abnormally dry or drought areas in Minnesota:

We were also drought free one year ago today, and only 1.5 percent of Minnesota was in the abnormally dry category.

Warmup starts Sunday

High temps will be close to normal in many parts of Minnesota Thursday and Friday.

Saturday will be a little bit on the cool side of normal:

On Sunday, southerly winds develop ahead of the next low-pressure system:

High temperatures will respond nicely Sunday afternoon:

Some spots in southern Minnesota could pop into the lower 80s on Sunday.

I'm wondering if the large doors will be open Sunday evening for the Vikings home opener against the Packers. Will they keep them closed so that they can run the air-conditioning?

Super Typhoon Meranti

I'll leave you with this satellite loop of Super Typhoon Meranti passing near the coast of Taiwan yesterday:

Meranti made landfall today on the eastern coast of China, near the city of Xiamen.