Rainy Weekend Ahead: MN Weather

MINNEAPOLIS — Starting Friday, the Twin Cities metro area and most of the region will see a rainy weekend.

"Showers and thunderstorms are expected this morning with activity becoming more numerous and widespread by early afternoon," the National Weather Service said.

"Southern and eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin may see rainfall totals of 1-2” through Saturday morning Saturday: Mainly dry with lingering AM showers. Highs in the mid 70s. Sunday: Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible in the afternoon and evening, especially across western Minnesota."

Here's the specific NWS forecast from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport:

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. High near 73. South southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 7pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 7pm and 10pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 10pm. Low around 61. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers between 1am and 4am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 59. West wind around 5 mph becoming south southeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 15 mph.

Sunday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 66. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind around 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight.

Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.

Tuesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.