Regional weather view.
A storm system will be making the top of the news story in the Upper Midwest over the end of this week as it makes its way through the Upper Midwest bringing significantly colder temperatures region wide. The low pressure system is expected to track across Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Enough cold air will flow in behind this system that areas Northwest of Duluth will see their 1st accumulating snowfall of the season, which could pile up to a few inches in that area. Most of the precipitation will be very limited to Northern Minnesota, across the south it will only be a few scattered rain showers. Sharply cooler temperatures will be the largest effects in these areas.
Local view.
Locally effects will be mostly limited to the sharply cooler air behind this system and cold front. Highs Friday ahead of this feature will be near 80.F before the front passes through, Thursday highs will struggle to reach the middle 50s, and winds will be strong out of the Northwest gusting to 30MPH. It will also be cloudy with a few scattered showers here or there. There is little expected in the way of rainfall across our area, it will mostly be of the hit and miss variety with amounts totaling under a quarter inch. Thursday night we will start having lows dip into the 30s for the 1st time of several coming nights which will likely prove to bring several frosts of hard freezes by weeks end. Friday will have clearing skies. It will be breezy and cool with highs only in the lower to middle 50s area wide. Friday night we will have partly cloudy skies with lows dipping into the upper 20s and lower 30s. Saturday/Sunday we can expect chilly sunshine with highs only in the upper 40s and lower 50s even with strong sun. Low temperatures both Saturday Night will be in the upper 20s area wide and it is possibly a few middle 20s will be seen. A hard freeze is likely, including in protected areas and inner city areas of Rochester. Sunday temperatures will start to moderate towards the middle 50s with lows in the middle 30s.
Wednesday, Mild and sunny! Highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s. Wednesday Night, A chance of a scattered shower. Lows in the low 50s.
Thursday, Scattered Rain Showers possible Much cooler, Strong Northwest winds gusting to 30MPH. Highs in the middle 50s. Thursday Night, Mostly Cloudy, lows in the upper 20s to lower 30s.
Friday, Breezy, Partly Sunny then clearing. Highs in the lower 50s. Friday Night, Partly cloudy skies. Lows in the upper 20s to lower 30s.
Saturday, Chilly sunshine, highs in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Saturday Night, Clear and cool. Widespread hard freeze likely, Lows in the mid to upper 20s all areas.
Sunday, Chilly sunshine, Highs in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Sunday Night, Clear, Warmer, lows in the low to mid 30s.
Looking Ahead
Unfortunately there is no significant rain in sight for the next few days. Tuesday is our next shot with a passing weak system but it looks minimal at this time. Things finally start to get more promising for precipitation towards the end of the week of October 11th but it also gets interesting. Models show a fairly strong low pressure system tracking across Northern Minnesota southeastward towards Upper Michigan. Its showing a threat of accumulating snow in Northern Minnesota October 11th, with widespread rain possibly changing to a few snow flurries even in our local area. A significant cool down follows this system. If the models continued with this system it has potential to bring desperately needed rains to our area. After Friday October 12th it turns much warmer and drier again, and we fall back into the pattern through the 18th. Forecasting models change day by day so be sure to check weather outlets often.