Minneapolis–St. Paul heads into Thursday with a high near 82°F and a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms — keep an eye on the radar and have a backup plan before you head out the door.
Today’s Setup
The National Weather Service Twin Cities office calls Thursday a marginal severe weather day, meaning storms are possible but not guaranteed — and you don’t need to cancel plans. What happened overnight sets the stage: western Minnesota picked up 2–3 inches of rain near Yellow Medicine County, and the atmosphere still carries plenty of Gulf moisture. Precipitable water values are climbing toward 1 inch across the metro, feeding the risk of brief, heavy downpours.
Expect a lull through mid-morning as overnight storms fizzle out, followed by a secondary round of showers and thunderstorms from late morning into the afternoon. Primary hazards with any storm that fires: large hail, strong winds, and heavy rainfall rates. The Weather Prediction Center has flagged a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall across parts of the Upper Midwest today, including portions of Minnesota.
Best Window To Be Outside
Your clearest outdoor window falls roughly between 9 AM and noon CT. If you want to walk the Stone Arch Bridge, hit Minnehaha Park, or squeeze in a round at Meadowbrook Golf Course, that’s your slot. By 2–3 PM CT, storm odds climb again — wrap up outdoor plans before then.
Twins Game at Target Field Tonight
The Minnesota Twins host the Kansas City Royals at Target Field on Thursday, and storm chances are still in play into the evening. Bring a rain layer to the ballpark and watch the radar before heading downtown. A Minnesota Twins jersey or Minnesota Twins fitted cap keeps you game-ready whatever the sky does. Grab your seats with Find tickets on StubHub or Get tickets on SeatGeek.
The Minnesota Lynx host the Golden State Valkyries at Target Center tonight as well — that one’s indoors, so weather is no issue at all.
What To Wear
At 82°F with high humidity pulled in from the Gulf, it’ll feel muggy even without rain. moisture wicking undershirts men are the smart call — comfortable whether the sun pops out between storm bands or not. Toss a light rain jacket in your bag just in case.
Tonight’s Other Events
Heading out to see Dwight Yoakam at Treasure Island Resort & Casino tonight? Storm chances ease noticeably after 10 PM CT, and that venue is mostly enclosed. A Dwight Yoakam t-shirt is perfect for the show. Prefer staying closer to downtown? The Great Gatsby (Touring) at the Orpheum Theatre is fully indoors — no weather worries there.
Rainy Day Dinner Idea
A storm-charged Thursday is made for set-it-and-forget-it cooking. Load a programmable slow cooker with chili fixings before you leave in the morning and come home to dinner ready. Or go classic with an enameled cast iron Dutch oven for a pot of beef stew that’ll hit the spot after a muggy, unsettled day. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Friday stays unsettled: high near 83°F and another 50% storm chance, though the National Weather Service notes confidence on storm coverage is low and depends on how Thursday plays out. Saturday should dry out — start penciling in outdoor plans. Next week brings an active and very warm pattern, according to the NWS Twin Cities office.
Stay current with the Minneapolis weather forecast and check our outdoor gear deals for storm-season prep.
