Minneapolis weather today brings heavy rain and thunderstorms throughout the day, with conditions improving by Tuesday—so plan your Monday accordingly.
Showers and thunderstorms will dominate from early this morning through this evening, with the National Weather Service forecasting a 90% chance of precipitation. The heaviest rain is expected this afternoon between 12 PM and 6 PM CT, when rainfall rates could reach 1 to 2 inches per hour. Highs will only reach around 63°F with southeast winds of 10 to 15 mph gusting up to 25 mph. The Weather Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall for portions of the Midwest, including our area, so flash flooding is possible in low-lying areas—especially around the Minnesota River bottoms near Fort Snelling or along creeks in St. Paul’s Highland Park neighborhood.
A few stronger storms across southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin may produce some hail this afternoon, though the local forecasters at the National Weather Service aren’t overly impressed with severe storm chances here in the Twin Cities metro. Still, stay weather-aware and keep your phone nearby for any alerts.
What to do today: This is a perfect day to stay indoors. If you have outdoor plans—say, catching the Minnesota Twins vs. Seattle Mariners at Target Field on Tuesday evening—save them for later in the week. For indoor entertainment, grab tickets on StubHub or Get tickets on SeatGeek for any of this week’s concerts or games, including the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Touring) at the Orpheum Theatre tonight if you’re already committed.
Rain gear essentials: If you must venture out, grab a packable rain jacket and a compact travel umbrella—both will pack down easily and keep you dry. Consider rain boot shoe covers or waterproof hiking boots if you’ll be walking through puddles around downtown Minneapolis or the Stone Arch Bridge area.
Tonight and Tuesday: Rain will taper off by 9 PM CT tonight, with lows dropping to 40°F. Tuesday looks fantastic—mostly sunny with highs near 57°F and just a 2% chance of rain. This is your green light for outdoor activities, golfing at your favorite Twin Cities course, or finally getting that lawn fertilizer spring application done.
Dinner idea: Rainy days call for comfort food. Throw together a slow cooker chili or beef stew this morning and let it cook all day—the aroma alone will brighten your Monday. A programmable slow cooker makes this effortless, and an enameled cast iron Dutch oven works beautifully for stovetop versions. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next few days: Wednesday through early next weekend stays dry and cool, with a few mornings dipping near freezing—so hold off on planting tender annuals until mid-week warmth returns.
