Easing into spring; 70s likely by Sunday

Signs of spring are emerging on the weather maps and in the landscape.

On the map above, check out the first leaf index map from the National Phenology Network. The first green leafy shoots are emerging across Iowa and parts of southeast South Dakota, and there may be a few green shoot in southern Minnesota this week.

Here’s the update on the status of spring form NPN:

Spring leaf out continues to spread north across the country. In the eastern half of the country, spring is coming in fits and starts, arriving later than a long-term average (1991-2020) in some areas, and earlier in others. In the last couple of weeks, spring has arrived early in the Northern Great Plains, Midwest, and Northeast. Sioux Falls, SD is 9 days early, Detroit, MI is 4 days early, Rochester, NY is 7 days early. Spring arrival is variable in California, Arizona, and Nevada, with spring arriving a week late to two weeks early depending on the location. The Pacific Northwest Coast is one to two weeks late.

When will spring arrive in your location? Check back on this page to see the progression of early spring activity across the country. 

Spotty April showers

A weak low-pressure wave is causing a few spotty showers across Minnesota. Coverage is low, and a few snow showers will continue in the northeast.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NAM 3 km model shows the trends between 7 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. Thursday:

Thursday will be about 10 degrees cooler than Wednesday. Highs will range from the 30s northeast to 50s south.

Nice spring weekend ahead

This looks like the best weekend of spring so far across Minnesota. We’ll see plenty of sunshine Friday and Saturday with a few clouds and shower chances Sunday.

Highs Friday will be mostly in the 50s.

Saturday brings widespread 60s to much of Minnesota.

Sunday looks like the warmest day of the weekend with highs in the 70s from the Twin Cities south and westward.

Enjoy!