Warmer air surges back into Minnesota ahead of a spring storm

After a more seasonable day Tuesday, warmer temperatures return Wednesday through Friday. A storm system will deliver thunder late Friday and rain and snow Saturday. 

Warm air surges ahead of spring storm system 

We’ll see plenty of sunshine Wednesday and the return of warm air. Highs will be in the 50s to even low 60s in southern Minnesota with 40s north. Those readings are 10 to 25 degrees above normal for March 12. 

Overnight lows will stay mostly in the 30s across central and southern Minnesota with low 20s northeast. 

Thursday will be even warmer with highs well into the 60s across southern Minnesota and 50s north. Parts of western Minnesota will reach 70 degrees again. 

The peak of the warmth comes Friday when most of southern Minnesota will see highs in the 70s, nearly 30 degrees above normal.

For the Twin Cities, this would be our first 70 of the season and arrive about three to four weeks earlier than normal.

The record high Friday in the Twin Cities is 73 set in 2012. That year was also our warmest March on record. We also had our earliest ever recorded 80-degree reading on March 17 in 2012.

We’re still tracking a significant spring storm system that will deliver thunderstorms late Friday, some of which could be strong. Rain will turn to snow Saturday. 

We’ll need to monitor the state’s first chance at severe weather late Friday also. A slight risk (level 2 of 5) for severe thunderstorms is forecast for southeastern Minnesota late Friday with a marginal risk (level 1 of 5) through the Twin Cities.

Here’s a look at potential forecast lightning for 8 p.m. Friday evening:

Cooler air follows for the weekend with highs in the 30s Sunday for southern Minnesota, 20s north. Temperatures warm yet again by Monday with highs back in the 50s and low 60s for southern Minnesota.