Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Wind returns; severe weather risk Friday along I-90 corridor

Wind gusts over 40 mph possible again Friday.

Severe weather risk areas
Severe weather risk areas Friday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Our run of beautiful spring weather lasts through Thursday. With one change. After a quiet morning, those pesky winds will ramp up from the southeast on Thursday afternoon.

But bright sunshine and warmer temperatures will make it feel pretty great out there on Thursday. Highs will run into the 60s across most of Minnesota on Thursday afternoon.

Forecast high temperatures Thursday
Forecast high temperatures Thursday
NOAA

Wind returns

Wednesday brought a nice respite from the gales of April. So far this month, 21 of 24 days have featured wind gusts above 30 mph in the Twin Cities and most of Minnesota. That’s just shy of the record of 24 days with 30 mph gusts in April of 2022.

Friday will be the windiest of the next few days. Gusts could push 40 mph in parts of Minnesota Friday.

Wind gusts
Projected wind gusts Friday afternoon
NOAA

Rainfall ahead

Two storm systems blow through Minnesota between Friday and Sunday. The first brings scattered rain and thunderstorms into southern Minnesota Friday morning. Rain and thunderstorms will cover much of Minnesota Friday afternoon.

Weather conditions
Forecast weather conditions Friday afternoon
NOAA

This system is potent enough for a significant severe weather outbreak in the central United States Friday. A marginal risk zone nudges into far southern Minnesota Friday along the Interstate 90 corridor.

Severe weather risk areas
Severe weather risk areas Friday
NOAA

Saturday brings a break in steady rain, but the second wave brings more showers and thunderstorms by Sunday.

NOAA GFS model
Global Forecast System model between 1 a.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Monday
NOAA, via Tropical Tidbits

It still looks like much of Minnesota will see 1 to as much as 3 inches of rainfall by Monday.

NOAA GFS precipitation output
Global Forecast System precipitation output through midday Monday.
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather