Current Conditions:
As you sit right now in the warm sector of the approaching storm, the temperatures are warm and the high should nearly reach 75F. Dew points are reaching 60 this afternoon as clears skies give way to partly cloudy.
Short term forecast:
A strong low pressure system is developing across the northern plains. As a surface low begins deepening in the lee of the Rockies, a strong cold front will sweep southward through central Minnesota on Tuesday. Aloft, an upper-level trough will enhance northward moisture advection, priming the Great Lakes region for heavy rain. On Tuesday morning, the cold front will bring chilly air, a chance of thunderstorms, winds that will shift from the north, and heavy rain that could easily total more than an inch over the next 24 hours. The chance of thunderstorms will be highest on Tuesday afternoon, and the heaviest rain and winds will be over-night Tuesday/early-morning Wednesday. Winds on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning/afternoon will be 15 mph, gusting to 25+ mph from the north. By Wednesday morning, the surface low pressure and upper level trough will develop into a classic-looking midlatitude cyclone centered over Iowa that will thoroughly douse the upper midwest. In central Minnesota though, the storm is mostly through by then: on Wednesday morning, the rain in MN should lighten, but may not end completely until later in the evening. Winds will finally lighten back to 10mph from the north by late night Wednesday.
Long term forecast:
Thursday and Friday will be calmer, though noticeably colder in the wake of the storm. Skies will be partly-mostly cloudy and the winds will calm down to about 10mph from the north. Temperatures will likely not start to warm again until the weekend.
Monday, September 8
Highs: mid 70s
Lows: upper 50s
South winds around 15 mph gusting to 25 mph, dropping to 10mph as night falls
Mostly sunny, giving way to clouds
Tuesday, September 9
Highs: low/mid 60s
Lows: low/mid 40s
NNE winds at around 10 mph
Light rain with a chance of thunderstorms Tuesday morning, giving way to heavy rain Tuesday night
Wednesday, September 10
Highs: mid 40s
Lows: upper 30s
NNE winds at 15 mph, gusting to 25-30 mph
Moderate rain in the morning, light rain in the afternoon/evening, dry by midnight
Thursday, September 11
Highs: upper 40s/low 50s
Lows: upper 30s
NNW wind at 10 mph
Partly cloudy
Friday, September 12
Highs: mid 50s
Lows: mid 30s
NW winds at 5-10 mph
Partly cloudy and cold at night
Forecasters Katzenberger and Maroon