Minnesota sees a wide temperatures contrast Tuesday
Highs will range from 40s to 70s ahead of a storm that brings rain Wednesday
Cooler air starts to spread in from the northwest Tuesday, causing a temperature contrast of about 30 degrees across Minnesota by the afternoon.
Tuesday’s forecast
In the wake of exceptionally warm weather Monday, where most of Minnesota was at least 20 degrees above average highs, Tuesday is starting mild for late October with almost the entire state in the 40s and 50s.
Warm southerly winds and plentiful sunshine contributed to Monday’s warmth, and similar conditions Tuesday means another warm day in southern and eastern Minnesota, with highs in the 60s and 70s.
However, northwestern Minnesota will already start to see some of the colder air filter in ahead of a storm that moves through Minnesota Wednesday. Because of this, there will be a large temperature contrast across the state, with northwestern Minnesota stuck in only the 40s and 50s, which is actually more seasonable for this time of year.
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Here are the forecast winds by late Tuesday afternoon, showing southern Minnesota still in a warmer, southerly flow, while northern Minnesota sees the winds shift and gets a colder pattern of northerly winds.
As the cooler weather moves in, winds will also be gusty northwest, with gusts over 30 mph at times.
The cooler air spreads throughout the entire state by Wednesday, and the same weather system also brings in showers and a couple thunderstorms.
That forecast will be updated around 9 a.m.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:48 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.