National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

• Home
• Site Map
• News
• Organization
• Search for: NWS All NOAA 

000
FXUS63 KMPX 231042
AFDMPX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
542 AM CDT Sat Sep 23 2017

.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)
Issued at 355 AM CDT Sat Sep 23 2017

As of 3AM this morning, the Twin Cities was still 81 degrees and
much of southern MN and western WI were in the mid to upper 70s.
However, the front has made its way into western Minnesota, where
continuous showers and thunderstorms have been ongoing through the
overnight hours.  The front was positioned from just east of
Alexandria through the southwest corner of the state.

This front will continue to be the key factor for our weather the
next few days.  The first surface low has passed to our north with
the second developing across eastern Colorado and hence a frontal
boundary connecting the two.  The front will remain mostly
stationary from its current position today, meaning western MN will
continue to see chances for showers and thunderstorms, and highs
limited to the 60s west of the boundary.  East of the boundary will
likely be dry today, with southerly winds and highs in the mid 80s
to lower 90s.  Dew points in the warm sector will once again be
around 70 degrees.  The thermal ridge won`t be as strong as
yesterday, so expect temperatures a few degrees cooler, but will
still yield apparent temperatures in the 90-95 degree range across
eastern and south central MN, as western WI as well.

The upper jet will strengthen north of the Dakotas later today and
the flow will become more amplified with time.  This will begin
pulling the frontal boundary back northwest, so expect the Dakotas
to light up with widespread precipitation by this evening.  The main
change for us was to push pops back farther west tonight as the
front looks to move back into the Dakotas, which will bring
southerly flow back across the entire forecast area overnight, while
the vast majority of the precip will be amidst the large scale
forcing behind the front.  So, don`t be surprised if eastern MN
including the Twin Cities sees no precipitation through at least
tomorrow morning.

.LONG TERM...(Sunday through Friday)
Issued at 355 AM CDT Sat Sep 23 2017

The main forecast concern in the extended period is timing of the
precipitation late Sunday/Monday, and how long will it last early
next week.

First, models are fairly consistent on weakening the upper ridge
over the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley late Sunday. This will allow for
the mean trough out west to slowly lift and move northeastward. This
will also allow for the surface cold front to finally move eastward
across the Upper Midwest late Sunday. Sunday remains very warm and
humid for the eastern 1/2 of MPX forecast area. Highs in the 80s
will be common with heat indices once again near 90 to 95 degrees.
Contrast this to western Minnesota where periods of showers and
thunderstorms will keep temperatures in the 50s/60s. It still looks
reasonable for excessive rainfall in portions of west
central/central Minnesota as several waves of precipitation are
expected. See the latest WPC outlook for flooding potential.

Once the mean trough weakens and lifts to the northeast across the
Northern Plains, the surface front will begin to move east. This
will lead to showers and thunderstorms to become more numerous in
eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin late Sunday night/Monday.
Depending upon how fast the mean long wave trough moves northeast
across the Northern Plains, and the mean flow becomes
west/northwest, will determine how fast the precipitation exits
Minnesota, and western Wisconsin. The best time frame will be
western Minnesota by Monday morning, and eastern Minnesota by
Tuesday morning. West central Wisconsin may have showers/storms
linger until Tuesday night.

By midweek, the mean upper flow becomes north/northwest. This will
usher in the coldest air mass since last Spring. Highs in the
40s/50s in the north, with 50s/60s in the south look reasonable for
Wednesday/Thursday and Friday. Depending upon the amount of cloud
cover and surface wind speeds late in the week, will determine if
frost is possible in portions of central/southern Minnesota, as
well as western Wisconsin.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Sunday morning)
Issued at 537 AM CDT Sat Sep 23 2017

Frontal boundary currently across western MN is the main driver
today, with rounds of showers and thunderstorms expected along and
west of it, which will impact AXN and RWF, and possibly STC.
Northwest winds behind the front, but S to SE winds remain east of
the front. The front will sag slightly southeast during the day
before reversing course and pushing back west. Do not expect it to
reach MSP during this period, but winds could become variable at
STC. IFR or MVFR cigs likely near and behind the front.

KMSP...Expecting precip activity to stay to the west and northwest
of MSP, closer to the frontal boundary.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
Sun...Mainly VFR. Slight chance MVFR/TSRA. Winds SW 5-10 kts.
Mon...MVFR/TSRA. Winds S 5-10 kts.
Tue...Chc MVFR/TSRA early. Winds NW 5-10 kts.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...None.
MN...None.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...SPD
LONG TERM...JLT
AVIATION...SPD