5 Star Weekend Continues

SUNDAY: Plenty of sun, PM showers and T-showers up north. Stays dry in the metro. Winds: North 5-10. High: 81 

SUNDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. A few storms across northern MN. Low: 64

MONDAY: Unsettled, passing T-storms more likely, getting quite warm. High: 88.

TUESDAY: Hot sun, T-storms northern MN. Low: 70. High: 91

WEDNESDAY: Front sneaks through, maybe a passing shower or storm, but not as hot. Low: 71. High: 85.

THURSDAY: Mix of clouds and sun, cooler. Low: 60. High:73

FRIDAY: Growing potential for afternoon showers and thunderstorms, still cooler. Low: 56. High:75 

SATURDAY: Slight chance of a shower or afternoon rumble of thunder. Low: 58 High: 76

I had a chance to get up to Duluth this weekend, a place I called home for nearly 4 years before moving back to the Twin Cities 3 years ago. My family and I go back at least a few times a year to see family and friends to take in the sights, sounds and smells of what still holds a special place in my family's heart. Duluth, if you didn't know, is the world's most inland seaport on the western tip of Lake Superior. The coldest and deepest of all the Great Lakes, the average annual temperature of the lake is a balmy 40F, has a maximum depth of 1,332 ft. and is also the resting place of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which has been made famous by Gordon Lightfoot in his song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" - I have witnessed several great storms on Superior in the 4 years that I was there with my wife, Sheena, but some of the greatest weather comes around June and lasts through August - (on occasion depending upon which way the wind blows!) Keep in mind the temperature of Lake Superior at this time of year is still quite cold, in the low 40s as seen in the graphic below:

Example: While the Twin Cities was sweating in 90 degree heat on Friday, Duluth had an Easterly wind and was only in the 40s downtown. The next day (Saturday), the wind switched and downtown Duluth was near 80F! Every so often, Duluth can take your breath away and yesterday was one of those days. Anytime an easterly wind blows, temps by the lake (in Duluth) can be quite cold. I don't know how many times I've seen tourists show up in shorts and T-shirts, when suddenly the wind switches and blows in 'lake air' - "Colder by the lake" sweatshirts are a common souvenir to those who come unprepared to Canal Park. Speaking from experience, take every kind of clothing you can think of when visiting Duluth, just in case that wind switches AND watch out for seagulls!! Yes, the picture below IS what it looks like!

Regardless of the dangerous seagulls flying overhead, I was glad I could spend a day with my wife and my, nearly, 2yr. old son Crosby in my home away from home... even though the water was ICE COLD!

Closer to Home

The weather closer to home still looks wonderful for another day, no complaints in the weather department. Mostly sunny, with high temps in the lower 80s and lower humidity values will make this weekend, arguably, the best weekend of the spring/summer season so far - ENJOY! Things begin to turn unsettled overnight with a slight chance of thunder into Monday. Temperatures will also begin to heat up as we head back to work. Get ready for another round of 90s - perhaps - both Monday and Tuesday, before things cool off a little in to the end of the week. Below are the raw weather model number for high temperatures into the upcoming week. Note Monday and Tuesday in the 90s, this could be the 2nd and 3rd day with high in the 90s this year if it verifies.

Thunder Chances?

Our next best chance of thunder will rumble in, in an isolated fashion, on Monday. It doesn't look like a washout, but a few passing showers or storms could chase us indoors in the afternoon. Rainfall amounts look to be fairly light, except where thunderstorms develop.

 This is the 2 day precipitation forecast, which shows a few spots in northern Minnesota getting around 0.50" to 0.75" through 7pm Monday where scattered showers and storms develop:

Cooler Late Week Temps

After the front sags south, temperatures will drop as well. In fact, high temps by Thursday may drop into the, refreshing, 70s and could last through the early weekend.

High Temps Thursday

That's all for now, thanks for checking in and have a good Sunday!

Meteorologist Todd Nelson