Scattered Saturday thunder; hints of September next week?

Noticeably cooler air mass visits Minnesota starting Sunday

It’s said we earn our summers in Minnesota. If true, we're getting our money’s worth this year.

As we close out July, summer is running about 3 degrees warmer than average in much of Minnesota. We’ve had 12 days of 90-degree heat in the Twin Cities this summer. And more than our share of big thunderstorms.

It’s been a real Minnesota summer so far.

626 summer sky
Summer sky in the western Twin Cities metro area.
Paul Huttner | MPR News

Saturday thunder

A cool front eases across Minnesota Saturday. Look for scattered showers and thunderstorms along the frontal zone. Severe weather looks unlikely, but a few storms may bring local downpours, feisty wind gusts and lightning.

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NOAA’s NAM 3 km resolution model shows scattered cells sliding south through Minnesota Saturday. The most likely timing for scattered pop-up storms the Twin Cities will be Saturday afternoon and evening.

NOAA NAM 3 km model between 9 am Saturday and midnight Sunday
NOAA NAM 3 km model between 9 a.m. Saturday and midnight Sunday.
NOAA via tropical tidbits

Whiff of September

Next week brings August, and hints of September will be in the air. Saturday’s cool front pushes south by Sunday. A stronger bubble of Canadian high pressure builds in starting Sunday.

Surface weather maps through Sunday
Surface weather maps through Sunday
NOAA

Hints of September next week

Our inbound Canadian air mass brings noticeably cooler air next week. Northwest flow aloft brings a cooler airflow into Minnesota.

Upper air forecast map for 7 pm August 2
Upper air forecast map for 7 p.m. Aug. 2.
NOAA

Highs in the mid-70s south and near 70 north will give us a hint of September in the first week in August.

Forecast high temperatures Monday
Forecast high temperatures Monday
NOAA

Summer’s not over yet. The longer-range maps suggest summerlike warmth will return as August deepens.