A cool Wednesday, then temps rebound; crop harvest running later than normal

A mild weekend ahead

Our average Twin Cities high temp this time of year is 58 degrees. We’ll see Minnesota and western Wisconsin highs mainly in the 40s Wednesday afternoon, but a few spots in the metro area could creep toward 50.

Highs in the 50s are expected across most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Thursday, with some lower 60s in southwestern Minnesota:

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Thursday forecast highs
National Weather Service

Many areas will reach the 60s on Friday, with 50s to the north:

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Friday forecast highs
National Weather Service

I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few upper 60s in the metro area late Friday afternoon.

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Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to reach the mid 60s on Saturday, followed by lower 60s Sunday.

Rain chance late Sunday

Forecast models have slowed down the arrival of rain on Sunday. Rain may move into western Minnesota Sunday afternoon, spreading into eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin Monday evening and lingering through Monday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Global Forecast System (GFS) model shows the potential precipitation pattern from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening:

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NOAA GFS precipitation rate Sunday afternoon through Monday
Tropicaltidbits.com

Listen for updated weather information on the MPR network, and you’ll also see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.

Fall color update

There’s still some great fall color in portions of Minnesota, according to the latest fall color report from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources:

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Wednesday fall colors
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Keep in mind that the fall color report includes all deciduous trees, not just maples. A Wisconsin fall color report is also available.

Crop report

The Minnesota Crop Progress & Condition report for the week ending Oct. 13 states:

Cold wet conditions and even some snow limited the number of days suitable for fieldwork to 2.7 during the week ending October 13, 2019, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities for the week were minimal as already saturated fields received more precipitation. Reports of sweet corn harvest wrapping up were received this week

Later in the report, which is issued by the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Agricultural Statistics Service in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the following summary is given:

Sixty-six percent of corn was mature, 20 days behind last year and 2 weeks behind normal. Corn harvested for grain reached 5 percent, 17 days behind last year and 13 days behind the average. Corn harvested for silage reached 78 percent this week, 2 weeks behind average. Corn condition was rated 52 percent good to excellent, declining from the previous week. Ninety-two percent of soybeans were dropping leaves, 2 weeks behind last year and 10 days behind normal. Nineteen percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, 16 days behind average. Soybean condition was rated 53 percent good to excellent, declining from the previous week.

This chart shows how far behind the 5-year average the 2019 harvest is running:

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Crop Progress as of October 13, 2019
USDA, Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture

I’m sure that farmers will appreciate the dry weather of the next few days.

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.