Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

More anomalous warmth ahead of a significant storm system

Potential severe weather and snow are possible late Friday into Saturday

wx10a
Forecast surface weather conditions Friday evening
National Weather Service

Temperatures will run 20 to 30 degrees above normal Thursday and Friday ahead of a potent spring storm that will bring thunderstorms late Friday and snow Saturday. 

All four seasons in Minnesota Friday into Saturday 

Our anomalous warmth continues Thursday with highs reaching well into the 60s to near 70 across southern Minnesota. We’ll see more scattered clouds north with brighter skies south. These readings are 20 to 30 degrees above normal.

thu1
Forecast highs Thursday
National Weather Service

Friday will be even warmer with highs in the 70s across southern Minnesota. The record high in the Twin Cities is 73 set in 2012 — and it could be in jeopardy. If we hit 70 degrees, which looks likely, it’ll be the fifth earliest 70-degree reading in the Twin Cities. 

fri1
Forecast highs Friday
National Weather Service

Unusual warmth is preceding an unusually strong spring storm with impacts farther north than usual for this time of year. Our first round of moisture will come in the form of thunderstorms late Friday. Storms will develop in Iowa and lift northeast into the evening and overnight.

fri prec
Forecast precipitation 5 p.m. Friday through 1 a.m. Saturday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Pivotal Weather

We could be dealing with the first threat of severe weather in southern Minnesota late Friday. The storm prediction center forecasts a slight risk (level 2 of 5) for severe storms late Friday in southeast Minnesota. 

spc FRI
Severe weather outlook Friday into Friday night
NOAA Storm Prediction Center

The second round of moisture will be a transition to winter precipitation types. Rain will gradually turn to freezing rain and snow late Friday night and through the day Saturday from west to east.

sat PREC
Forecast precipitation and type 1 a.m. Saturday through 7 p.m.
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

Northern and western Minnesota is the favored region for potentially significant snowfall with lesser amounts likely south and east. 

snow
Forecast snowfall through Saturday evening
National Weather Service

Northwest Minnesota could see a light, icy glaze preceding snowfall Saturday.

ice MN
Forecast potential ice accumulation Friday night into early Saturday
National Weather Service

Winds will also howl late Friday into Saturday with gusts over 50 mph possible in western Minnesota. Temperatures will drop Saturday into Sunday with highs just in the 30s and 20s Sunday. We’ll see milder air return already by Monday.