Thursday morning, June 11, is starting off cool and mostly clear in Minneapolis, with temperatures hovering near 66°F. The quiet stretch will be short-lived, though, as a quick-moving system is expected to roll in by mid-morning, bringing widespread rain showers and a solid chance of thunderstorms through the afternoon. Highs should climb to around 72°F before sliding back into the upper 60s later in the day.
Afternoon Storm Window
Rain showers are likely before 1 p.m., with the steadiest and heaviest activity favored from around noon into mid-afternoon. Overall rain chances are running close to 80 percent, and most neighborhoods can expect to pick up a few tenths of an inch. Some spots across the southern and eastern suburbs could squeeze out up to a half-inch of rain, according to the National Weather Service. A few stronger cells may bring gusty downpours and lightning, so outdoor events and lunchtime meetups should plan for possible delays or quick dashes to shelter.
Commuter Impacts
Drivers should plan on a soggy Thursday afternoon commute, with sloshy roads and visibility that can drop quickly in heavier bursts of rain. At MSP airport, rain is likely to swing through around midday, with lower clouds lingering through the afternoon before conditions improve toward evening. Travelers might want to pad their schedules a bit for buses, light rail, and rideshares as wet-weather slowdowns ripple through the system. West-southwest winds will stay mostly on the light side today, then are expected to strengthen later in the week.
Weekend Outlook
Once this system pushes out, a drier and cooler airmass settles over the region. Friday should turn sunny but breezy, with a high near 80°F and gusts that could reach 30 mph, and the weekend looks milder overall with highs in the low to mid 70s. Ensemble guidance points to temperatures running about 5–10 degrees below normal through the middle of next week, offering a bit of a break from the recent humidity highlighted in our wet one-two punch. Keeping an umbrella handy on Thursday is still a smart move, although outdoor plans should be much easier to pull off after sunset once the rain tapers.
