Warm and breezy Wednesday with thunder late. Fall chill for the end of the week

Wednesday will be our warmest day of the week with highs in the 80s in southern Minnesota. Thunder is possible late and into the night ahead of cool air for the end of the week. 

Warm, breezy Wednesday ahead of a cool front that will touch off some thunder

It’ll be another breezy day Wednesday as south winds continue to blow at 10-20 mph ahead of a cool front.

Highs Wednesday will be in the 80s across southern Minnesota, making it the warmest day of the week.

Also blowing in behind with the cold front will be more wildfire smoke. There’s an air quality alert that takes effect late Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning for northwestern Minnesota.

Check the latest air quality conditions, alerts and forecasts here:

Scattered showers and some thunder develop Wednesday afternoon in northwestern Minnesota ahead of the front. That chance of thunder will spread statewide overnight Wednesday into early Thursday. 

There is a marginal risk (level 1 out of 5) of severe weather. There could be one or two strong or severe storms. We are not expecting a repeat of any of last week’s stormy scenarios.

Rainfall amounts should be relatively light for most, below one-half inch. There will be some highly localized, heavier amounts with a few thunderstorms.

Behind the front will come our coolest air since May for Friday and Saturday. Highs Friday will be in just the 50s for northern Minnesota.

The cool afternoon Friday will set the stage for a chilly night Friday night. Lows will be in the 30s across much of northern Minnesota. We’ll see 40s in southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities. It’ll be the coolest night in the Twin Cities since May.

Summer temperatures rebound for next week. There’s a high likelihood of above-normal temperatures next week in the six to 10-day temperature outlook which translates to low 80s south and 70s north.