textproduct: Twin Cities

KEY MESSAGES

- Seasonable high temperatures (40s & 50s) through the end of the work week.

- Small scattered rain chances this evening, favoring west-central WI.

- A warm, humid, and stormy pattern remains likely this weekend and early next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 325 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026

Looks to be a tad on the breezy side this afternoon. Current observations advertise 20-30 mph gusts with a couple of 40 mph win gust reports in southern MN. Ongoing breezy conditions can be expected for the rest of this afternoon and evening as a cold front continues to push through from west to east. For those ahead of the cold front mainly in western WI, temperatures remain in the mid 60s, whereas across western MN in the mid to upper 40s. We are continue to monitor the chances for precip in the very near-term. This front has featured some radar reflectivity as it pushes through but it does look like surface dry is air is limiting droplets from reaching the ground in current time. RAP/HRRR forecast soundings do indicate some moisture advection early this evening across portions of eastern MN and western WI, therefore have hung onto the rain shower potential in those areas until this evening. For any rainfall that does occur will be short lived. Lows tonight will fall to the upper 20s to lower 30s.

Tomorrow's forecast highs will be noticeably 10 to 15 degrees cooler (in the 40s to lower 50s) as compared to today. Some sunshine is expected during the morning hours as high pressure briefly fills in however clouds return during the afternoon as a weak wave trailing this parent low generates a few isolated showers across central and southern MN and western WI. Nothing to write home about but did warrant enough confidence for the forecast to feature 20-30% PoPs for the afternoon and evening. Best case, have the umbrella accessible likely are not going to need to use it. Once this wave clears Thursday night, more prevalent high pressure moves back in for Friday. Temperatures will still be cooler than normal given NW'ly flow but with clear skies and light winds, temps should reach the mid-50s for most.

This weekend features the start of a large scale pattern shift to a warm, humid, and potentially stormy one lasting into the start of next week. Thermal ridging builds across the western CONUS which will move eastward and advect much warmer temperatures and greater moisture into the northern plains. Saturday will be in the 50s once again while Sunday could be our first soupier feeling day as dew points reach the low 60s with temps in the 70s. As for precip, those with outdoor plans should keep an eye on the forecast as the QPF footprint has increased in spatial coverage for those seeing greater than 0.5" of rain, especially those across eastern MN into western WI.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1238 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026

A line of isolated to scattered light rain showers will move through from west to east, a few hours later than previous forecasts. This could lead to intermittent MVFR amidst mainly low to mid VFR cigs. Skies clear out quickly as the precip moves out, becoming VFR at all sites within a few hours 00Z. Gusty winds will likely be of more concern as the front passes through, becoming westerly gusting 20 to 30kts.

KMSP...Winds will remain blustery from the west as isolated showers move through this afternoon. They are in the process of switching from SW to W and eventually NW with the frontal passage, gusts peaking at around 30kts. Skies clear out and winds weaken after 00z.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ FRI...VFR. Wind NW 5kts. SAT...VFR, bcmg MVFR/-SHRA. Wind SE 10-15kts. SUN...MVFR/-SHRA likely, chance IFR. Wind S 10-15G25kts.

MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MN...Wind Advisory until 4 PM CDT this afternoon for Faribault- Freeborn-Martin-Steele-Waseca. WI...None.