The Twin Cities are anticipating a bout of scattered showers and thunderstorms today with the National Weather Service noting that these conditions will primarily emerge after 2 pm. The forecast, as outlined by the NWS for Minneapolis, MN, includes the potential for patchy fog before 8 am, though the skies will mostly clear up, yielding a mostly sunny day with highs teetering around 80 degrees.
As the evening rolls in, the NWS forecasts a 70% chance of precipitation, predicting a likelihood of showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight, with south winds holding at around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts are projected to be between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, however, in the event of thunderstorms higher amounts are possible.
Looking towards the upcoming week, the NWS predicts a continuous dance between the sun and storms. Sunday is slated to see scattered showers and thunderstorms with a 50% chance of precipitation and highs near 79, while Monday carries a 30% chance for similar conditions in the afternoon after what is expected to be a mostly sunny morning. Tuesday and Wednesday will also have opportunities for isolated showers and thunderstorms after 1 pm, despite the prevalence of sunshine and high temperatures in the low 80s.
According to the NWS Hazardous Weather Outlook, these thunderstorms today could be stronger in western Minnesota bearing the threat of gusty winds and hail. Radiating out towards central and southern Minnesota, and parts of west-central Wisconsin, the outlook remains free from predicted hazardous weather for the subsequent days, Sunday through Friday. Despite the break in severe weather conditions, the statement from the NWS advises that SKYWARN spotter activation might be a necessity this afternoon, particularly across western parts of the state.
