Minneapolis–St. Paul is in for a mostly sunny Friday with a high near 72°F and light winds from the west-southwest at 5 to 15 mph—a genuinely pleasant late spring day that won’t last long. Make the most of it, because a cold front is already moving in tonight, bringing a chance of rain showers after 3 AM and temperatures dropping to the mid-40s by Saturday morning.
Today’s Setup
This is your golden window. Weak warm air advection is pushing temps up to the low 70s this afternoon, and the National Weather Service forecasters note that today’s brief warm-up will come to an end as the cold front passes through tonight into tomorrow. Winds will stay light—nothing to complain about—so it’s an ideal day for outdoor activities across the metro. Whether you’re heading to the Minnehaha Falls area, checking out the Chain of Lakes, or exploring parks along the Mississippi River, conditions are excellent.
Best Window To Be Outside
Get outside between 10 AM and 5 PM CT. After sunset, cloud cover increases and rain chances climb to 30% overnight. The rain is most likely north of the I-94 corridor; if you’re in south Minneapolis or the southern suburbs, you’ll probably stay dry. If you’ve been itching to fire up the grill, today is the day—no rain risk and pleasant temps make for perfect grilling conditions.
Rain & Weekend Cooldown
A 30% chance of showers develops after 3 AM CT Friday night, with the best odds along and north of I-94 into central Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Saturday morning may see a brief round of showers before 7 AM CT, then conditions clear out. Saturday’s high only reaches 64°F—noticeably cooler—so layer up if you’re planning to be outside. The Timberwolves vs. Spurs playoff games at Target Center on Saturday and Sunday will be comfortable indoor events; grab a Minnesota Timberwolves jersey or Minnesota Timberwolves hoodie to show your support, and find tickets on SeatGeek or Find tickets on StubHub.
If you’re heading to Minnesota United FC vs. Austin FC at Allianz Field on Sunday, expect mostly dry conditions and temps in the low 60s—bring a light jacket and a compact travel umbrella just in case.
Pollen & Allergy Relief
May’s pollen count remains elevated, especially with the recent warm spell. If you’ve been sneezing more than usual, consider keeping allergy relief nasal spray on hand. A pollen count face mask can help if you’re working outside in yards or gardens. A HEPA air purifier inside will trap indoor pollen and give you a clean-air refuge after being outside.
What To Wear
Today: light layers and sunglasses. Tonight into Saturday morning: bring a light jacket or sweater; the wind will shift northwest and temps will drop quickly after the cold front passes. Saturday afternoon will be pleasant but cool—think 64°F and breezy.
Next Few Days
Saturday clears out by midday and stays mostly sunny, with highs near 64°F. Saturday night dips to around 41°F—another chilly night. Sunday looks similar, with highs in the mid-60s. A more sustained warm-up arrives Monday and Tuesday, but rain chances increase late Monday into Tuesday as a stronger system moves in. The National Weather Service is tracking better chances for more widespread rainfall at that time, so plan indoor activities if you have flexible weekend plans.
Tonight’s a great evening for a simple pasta dinner or stir-fry—nothing too heavy, and easy to prep. If you need fresh ingredients, you can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
