Minneapolis–St. Paul is in for a rainy Thursday with showers and thunderstorms likely through the afternoon and a high near 72°F — keep a compact travel umbrella close before heading out today.
Today’s Setup
A quick-moving surface low is tracking along a cold front stretching from Iowa through Wisconsin, placing the Twin Cities in what the National Weather Service calls a “deformation region” — meaning light to moderate rain for nearly the entire metro at some point today. Rain kicks off by mid-morning, with showers and storms most active through early afternoon, then tapering off mid-to-late afternoon. Temperatures climb to near 72°F before sliding back to around 67°F as cooler air filters in behind the front.
The Weather Prediction Center has flagged a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall across portions of the Midwest today. Southern and eastern Minnesota could see up to a half inch of rain. If you’re near low-lying areas along the Mississippi or Minnesota River corridors, keep an eye on local drainage today.
Best Window To Be Outside
Your clearest windows are early morning before mid-morning, and again after 4 PM CT once the rain wraps up. Tonight clears out nicely — mostly clear with a low around 57°F and a steady west wind around 10 mph. A post-storm walk around Lake Harriet or Bde Maka Ska would be a great way to end the evening.
What To Wear Or Bring
Today is a rain-gear day, full stop. A packable rain jacket is the move — it folds down to nothing and you’ll absolutely need it between mid-morning and mid-afternoon. A compact travel umbrella handles the office-to-parking-ramp hustle without slowing you down. Temps hover in the upper 60s to low 70s, so dress in light layers underneath.
Events This Week
Tonight (June 11): Little Women opens at the Guthrie Theater on the Wurtele Thrust Stage — an ideal indoor option on a rainy Thursday evening.
Friday (June 12): Big rebound to near 80°F and full sunshine. Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas plays Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in near-perfect conditions. Lee Brice: Live in Concert heads to The Ledge Amphitheater, but be aware — the NWS shows a 55% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 7 PM CT Friday night. That’s an outdoor venue, so arrive early and keep the radar app handy.
Saturday (June 13): The Minnesota Twins host the St. Louis Cardinals at Target Field for the $2 Beers game — a great excuse to wear your Minnesota Twins jersey or Minnesota Twins fitted cap to the ballpark. Grab seats via Find tickets on StubHub or Get tickets on SeatGeek. That evening, Trey Anastasio headlines the Orpheum Theatre — snag a Trey Anastasio t-shirt for the show. The Wallflowers also rock First Avenue on Saturday night.
Dinner Idea
A rainy Minneapolis Thursday calls for something low-effort and warming. Load a programmable slow cooker before work and come home to chili or beef stew ready to go. Prefer stovetop? An enameled cast iron Dutch oven is perfect for a big pot of soup on a gray afternoon. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Friday: Sunny with a high near 80°F and brisk west winds 10–15 mph, gusting up to 30 mph. Friday night: Another 55% storm chance after 7 PM CT — keep that in mind for outdoor plans. Weekend and beyond: The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures running 5–10°F below normal through mid-next week, with highs in the 70s and overnight lows in the 40s and 50s. That’s a rare, genuinely comfortable stretch for a Twin Cities June. Stay current with the Minneapolis weather forecast and check outdoor gear deals if you’re planning ahead for weekend activities.
