Minneapolis–St. Paul is starting Friday mostly cloudy with a high near 67°F and only a 20% chance of afternoon showers — but keep your evening plans flexible, because the National Weather Service is forecasting 100% chance of thunderstorms after 7 PM CT.
Today’s Setup
A cold front pushing across the Dakotas is dragging a wide rain shield into Minnesota today. Western MN is taking the brunt of it — the National Weather Service expects over an inch of rain in some spots west of the US-71 corridor, welcome relief for the driest part of the state this spring. For the Twin Cities and eastern metro, impacts are lighter: a stray shower possible between 9 AM and 5 PM CT, with ESE winds 10 to 15 mph keeping things noticeably breezy.
Best Window to Be Outside
Morning is your best window. A walk around Lake of the Isles, Minnehaha Falls, or the trails at Theodore Wirth Park is doable through midday. If you’ve been putting off a round of golf, this morning works — browse outdoor gear deals before you head out, including the Callaway Big Bertha 23 Fairway Wood — $150 Shipped if you’ve been eyeing a new fairway wood.
Storm Risk Tonight
After 7 PM CT, showers and thunderstorms move in with certainty — 100% precipitation coverage per the National Weather Service, with SE winds 10 to 15 mph and an overnight low around 54°F. Rainfall amounts of a tenth to a quarter inch are expected in the metro. If you’re headed to Brantley Gilbert at The Ledge Amphitheater tonight (May 22, outdoor venue), have a firm backup plan. Find tickets on StubHub if you’re still deciding, but watch the radar closely before heading out.
Saturday: Much Better for the Weekend
Once the front clears overnight, Saturday shapes up nicely — partly sunny skies, a pleasant high near 71°F, and SW winds around 10 mph. Any lingering showers before 7 AM CT should clear quickly, leaving a solid afternoon ahead.
Minnesota United FC hosts Real Salt Lake at Allianz Field (May 23) under what should be a beautiful sky by kickoff. Wear your Minnesota United FC jersey, bring a Minnesota United FC scarf for the supporter sections, and pack a hard cooler 52 quart for pre-match tailgating. Get tickets on SeatGeek if you still need them.
Over at CHS Field in Lowertown, the St. Paul Saints host the Omaha Storm Chasers (May 23) under partly sunny skies — a classic spring afternoon for Minor League Baseball.
The Martin Garrix Americas Tour lands at the Armory (May 23, indoor) — no weather worries there. Grab a Martin Garrix hoodie for the cool walk home in 52°F Saturday night air. Get tickets on SeatGeek.
Rainy Night Dinner Idea
Tonight’s storms are tailor-made for a slow-cooker situation. Load up a programmable slow cooker with chili ingredients before dinner and let it work while the thunder rolls. Or go stovetop with an enameled cast iron Dutch oven for a thick beef stew. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
The National Weather Service has encouraging news for the rest of Memorial Day weekend: above-normal temperatures and mainly dry conditions are on track through next week. Saturday night drops to a comfortable 52°F with nearly calm winds — great sleeping weather with the windows cracked. The back half of your long weekend is shaping up to be the better half. Stay with your Minneapolis–St. Paul weather forecast for updates as the holiday weekend unfolds.
