Minneapolis residents should prepare to keep their umbrellas close at hand, as the National Weather Service (NWS) predicts a damp and somewhat dreary week ahead. According to NWS's recent forecast, the city is likely to experience a series of showers and thunderstorms starting this afternoon with a 60% chance of precipitation and possible thunderstorms after 2 pm. The skies are expected to remain mostly cloudy, with temperatures peaking at a comfortable 71 degrees, accompanied by a southeast wind of around 10 mph.
Tonight, the chance of rain persists, with meteorologists forecasting a 50% likelihood of continued showers and thunderstorms. It might be hard to clearly see the roads with patchy fog predicted to set in after 5 am. Those heading outdoors should anticipate cloudy conditions and a nighttime low around 61 degrees, while south southeast winds are predicted to gently blow at 5 mph. New precipitation could tally up to a quarter of an inch, with those figures rising in areas hit by thunderstorms.
The weekend outlook doesn't seem to provide a break from the wet weather, with the National Weather Service indicating a continued likelihood of showers. Saturday, in particular, holds a 60% chance of precipitation, ranging from morning showers before 1 pm to potential thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening hours. Despite the gloom, the high for Saturday is forecast to be 72 degrees. South winds at around 5 mph should add some light motion to an otherwise damp and cloudy day.
Going into Saturday night, the spell of rain could slightly abate, but there's yet a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10 pm, dropping to a slight chance until the early hours of Sunday. Fog may again roll in afterwards, bringing visibility down post-midnight. The low should hover near a steady 61 degrees as the south-southwest winds quiet down to a whisper.
Outlook for Sunday doesn't promise a total respite from wet conditions, with the prediction of a slight chance of showers, then a chance of thunderstorms after 1 pm. The National Weather Service suggests there's a 30% chance of precipitation. Before a hopeful clearing of skies in the afternoon, patchy fog could obscure sights before 10 am. Should the sun peek through, temperatures may rise to a high near 74 degrees, greeted by a mild west southwest wind in the afternoon.
Looking ahead to the coming week, Monday through Thursday, the forecast calls for a mix of sunny intervals and patchy fog with occasional chances of showers, particularly on Monday afternoon and Tuesday. Minor fluctuations in temperature can be expected, ranging from lows around 60 degrees to daytime highs inching towards 75. Light winds from varying directions will keep the air stirring throughout the week, hopefully pushing away the lingering fog and dampness that settles across the Twin Cities.
