Minnesota Weather: Storms Expected Before Mild Halloween Forecast
Mild warmth and some strong storms are possible in Minnesota, with a sharp drop in temperatures and a mild Halloween ahead, MPR News reported.
Rain and Fog Push Winter Weather Out
Winter weather proved short-lived as a novelty for the region, with minimal snow sticking only in parts of North and South Dakota and leaving the North Star State untouched. Rain pushed out of Minnesota toward the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers by early Tuesday afternoon. Fog persisted across central and northern Minnesota, driven by a muggy autumn air mass trapping moisture near the surface.
Temperatures on Tuesday night remained mild and mostly dry, though isolated rain showers developed along the Interstate 90 corridor in southern Minnesota. Overnight lows spanned a steep gradient, from the mid-30s in northern regions and the 40s along the North Shore to a warm nose of temperatures in the far southeastern corner of the state.
Thunderstorms are set to kick off in the early afternoon on Wednesday, spreading east and intensifying through dinnertime. High-resolution forecasting models indicate that while widespread severe weather remains unlikely, a few storms across the northwestern Iowa corn belt and lake resorts up toward St. Peter, Mankato, and Rochester could briefly turn strong, bringing a primary risk of lightning for outdoor plans.
Temperatures Fall as Halloween Forecasts Conflict
Temperatures will fall starting Thursday, though readings remain well above normal for late October. A few novelty snowflakes could fly Thursday night into Friday morning across far northern areas, including Roseau, International Falls, Voyageurs, and the Boundary Waters. The southern tier of Minnesota will remain frost-free.
Forecasters report conflicting computer modeling for Halloween weather. European forecasting models point toward a mostly dry Saturday, while Canadian mapping indicates light afternoon rain near the Twin Cities, and American models project a rainy afternoon. Despite the inconsistent model runs, expected high temperatures in the upper 50s sit nearly 10 degrees above normal. Historical context looms large in local memory, recalling the severe Halloween blizzard of 1991.
Rain Chances Threaten Election Day
A significant weather pattern shift arrives next week as a large storm system moves out of the Rockies. The cutoff low threatens to bring persistent rain chances through much of the upcoming workweek, raising the possibility of soggy conditions by Election Day.