Minneapolis and St. Paul start Sunday under a round of showers and thunderstorms, with skies clearing to a high near 83°F by afternoon — keep a packable rain jacket by the door for the morning hours, then get outside once the sun breaks through.
Today’s Setup
The National Weather Service says showers and thunderstorms are likely before 7 AM CT, with another chance between 7 and 11 AM CT, before mostly cloudy skies give way to partial afternoon clearing. The Twin Cities/Chanhassen forecast office notes a few storms could bring quarter- to half-inch hail, gusty winds, and rainfall rates near an inch per hour, so if you hear thunder near Lake Harriet or the Chain of Lakes this morning, head indoors. Winds stay light out of the west-southwest at 0 to 5 mph, with a quarter to half an inch of rain possible.
Best Window To Be Outside
Hold off until after lunch. Sunday evening turns pleasant with a low around 64°F and just a 2% chance of rain — good timing for a walk around the Stone Arch Bridge. Monday looks even better: partly sunny, a high near 85°F, and only a 4% precipitation chance, setting up nicely for the Minnesota Twins vs. Baltimore Orioles game at Target Field on Monday.
Rain, Wind, Fire, Or Heat Risk
The Weather Prediction Center has placed a slight risk of excessive rainfall over parts of the Upper Midwest today as this morning’s storms congeal into a larger complex tracking toward Wisconsin — a reminder to avoid low-lying roads if storms linger longer than forecast. The Area Forecast Discussion points to the next rain chance arriving early Tuesday morning, then a dry stretch for much of the week, with temperatures near normal through Wednesday before dropping below normal starting Thursday.
What To Wear Or Bring
A packable rain jacket and compact travel umbrella cover the morning commute, while waterproof hiking boots are smart if you’re walking soggy trails around the lakes. As the dry stretch settles in, it’s worth grabbing this $5 UPF 50+ sun hoodie deal before your next fishing trip on the Chain of Lakes.
Around Town
Tonight, Train plays the Drops of Jupiter anniversary show at Mystic Lake Amphitheater, and the Minnesota Lynx host the Dallas Wings at Target Center — Get tickets on SeatGeek or Find tickets on StubHub before showtime. Monday’s Twins vs. Orioles game at Target Field looks like a great tailgate under partly sunny skies — pack a portable propane grill and pick up Official team gear on Fanatics. Looking ahead, Ed Sheeran brings the LOOP Tour to U.S. Bank Stadium on August 15; an Ed Sheeran t-shirt makes a good pre-show pickup.
Dinner Idea
With storms rolling through this morning, it’s a good night for slow cooker chili or a big pot of beef stew. A programmable slow cooker or an enameled cast iron Dutch oven makes it easy. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Expect a dry, near-normal stretch Monday through Wednesday with highs in the mid-80s, before temperatures slip below normal starting Thursday, according to the Area Forecast Discussion. The next rain chance arrives early Tuesday morning.
