Hot and muggy Friday with areas of thunderstorms
Central Minnesota was hit hard by severe thunderstorms Thursday evening. The Baxter-Brainerd Lakes area, in particular, was pummeled by hail and damaging winds.
Storms continue with very heavy rain early this Friday morning but have weakened and are no longer severe. The southern portion of this large area of showers and thunderstorms will continue tracking generally eastward across mainly the far north metro into the daylight hours.
Rather hot and muggy
A toasty air mass is in place and dew points will edge upward on Friday. Afternoon high temperatures should range from the mid-80s in the northeast to low 90s in and around the Twin Cities.
Severe storms likely later Friday
Daytime heating and an advancing cold front will kick off atmospheric instability over northwestern Minnesota Friday afternoon. Storms will be strong and some will become severe.
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Storms will expand southward as they track eastward for Friday evening and well into Friday night.
The early convective outlook from the Storm Pr4ediction Center for Friday-Friday night posts an enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) for severe weather for all of northwestern Minnesota and lower-level risks farther east and south. The main risks will be damaging winds and hail, but a tornado or two is possible in the Minnesota-North Dakota border region.
This outlook will be updated by around 8:00 a.m. Friday and will be included in my next Updraft.
Widespread rain Saturday, cooler Sunday
The overnight storms are likely to bring welcome widespread rain to much of Minnesota into Saturday morning before the cold front clears out the heat and mugginess.
Sunday looks like a lovely June day with comfortable temperatures and low humidity.
Periods of scattered showers and maybe thunderstorms could return beginning about next Tuesday.