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000
FXUS63 KMPX 201723
AFDMPX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1223 PM CDT Sat Apr 20 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Final push of snow showers moving through this morning. Little
  to no accumulation expected.

- Quiet weather through the weekend, with a couple of systems to
  move across the area at the start and end of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 311 AM CDT Sat Apr 20 2024

The brief return of winter excitement is starting to wane off this
morning, as the returns on radar have become fewer and fewer across
the area. We had a brief, heavy snow shower around 1:30AM at MPX
that was able to start accumulating, but it couldn`t quite break a
tenth given the wind and the fact that it only lasted for 5-10
minutes. The area that has had the best shot of seeing measurable
snow is along a line just north of I-94 between St. Cloud and Maple
Grove. This particular snow shower has led to visibilities as low as
2 miles for up to 30 minutes in some locations. Any other night
dwellers out there will see this shower gingerly slice through
the Twin Cities metro over the next hour or so.

Daytime temperatures will look to recover today as the upper-level
trough pushes further east, carrying the coldest mass of air along
with it. Nighttime temperatures will still likely drop near or below
freezing for most, leading to the third night in a row of potential
impact for susceptible vegetation.

Some good news, this evening we will see a weakening of our
persistent westerly winds, as well as clouds clearing from the
northwest to southeast. With the help of 850hPa WAA, temperatures
will have good chance at reaching the 60s for most on Sunday. As
temperatures warm, RH values will bottom out in the low-mid 20s,
elevating fire weather concerns. On the flip side, the lack of
strong wind gusts should help mitigate any concerns. It will be
something to keep an eye on through the weekend though.

A return to an active pattern is still on tap as we head into next
week. A relatively weak Clipper system will roll down from
Saskatchewan into the Upper Midwest Monday into Tuesday. Much of
Minnesota and Wisconsin will remain in the warm sector, keeping any
precipitation as rain. QPF will be light, with the highest totals
likely being only a few tenths at most. A strengthening Colorado Low
will look to steal the show by the end of the week. Both moisture
and convective potential look promising, and the specifics of this
system will certainly bear watching throughout the upcoming
days.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1220 PM CDT Sat Apr 20 2024

Gradual northwest to southeast clearing will continue for the
first few hours of the TAF as the line of lower level stratus
moves off, leaving us with SKC to FEW clouds for the remainder
of the period. Winds will continue at 270-300 at 10-15kts
gusting up to 25kts through the afternoon before dropping back
overnight. More gusts to around 20kts possible tomorrow during
the day.

KMSP...No additional concerns. VFR throughout the period.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
MON...VFR early, then chc MVFR/-SHRA. Wind S 15-20G30kts.
TUE...MVFR/-SHRA, then VFR. Wind NW 15-20G30kts.
WED...VFR. Wind E 5-10kts.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...BED
AVIATION...TDH