Brandon Weatherz: Heavy rain today and tonight

Potential for heavy rain and additional flooding concerns is the focus of our Friday forecast. A Flood Watch is in effect for Carlton Co., South St. Louis Co., and the North Shore of Lake Co. from 10 pm Friday until 10 am Saturday. The Watch may need to extend to other communities based on how the day plays out. A morning round of showers and thunderstorms sweeps the Northland from southwest to northeast. An isolated severe storm is possible along and south of a line from Big Fork to Grand Rapids to Hinckley.

Hail would be the main concern for any severe storms in the morning, then these same areas are where we look for any additional severe storms this afternoon. Rain pulls west of the Twin Ports in the afternoon and lingers mostly over north central Minnesota, then widespread showers and thunderstorms march east across the region through the evening and overnight bringing the heavy rain threat.

Areas of fog will set up overnight. As warmer air moves into the region, it’s possible the lake wind will cause areas of fog and low clouds that get trapped under the warm air above it, which would mean those near the shorelines could have cool, foggy, and drizzly weather that would prove to be stubborn both Saturday and Sunday. Visibility may be an issue for those seeking fall colors along the North Shore. Daytime shower and thunderstorm chances on Saturday are mostly limited to northwest Wisconsin. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are again possible Saturday night into Sunday morning, but most of the region should be on the dry side during the day Sunday.

Highs today range from mid-60s to low 70s looking from north to south. Saturday features mid-60s from the Twin Ports along the shorelines, but inland highs range from upper 60s to mid-70s. Sunday will have a more dramatic “cooler by the lake” effect with lakeside areas staying in mid to upper 60s while inland communities top off in upper 70s to mid-80s. Unseasonably warm weather spills into the start of next week. A wet weather system arriving in the middle of next week will trigger a return of cooler and more fall-like weather.

Today: Cloudy with scattered showers in the morning and additional thunderstorms in the evening. High 69. SE wind 5-15 mph. Chance of rain: 50%

Tonight: Scattered thunderstorms with heavy rain possible. Low 59. E wind 5-10 mph. Chance of rain: 90%

Tomorrow: Cloudy with areas of fog. High 67. E wind 5-15 mph.

Tomorrow night: Cloudy with areas of fog and isolated showers and thunderstorms. Low 59. E wind 10-15 mph. Chance of rain: 30%

Sunday: Areas of fog and isolated showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then decreasing clouds. High 69. E wind 10-15 mph. Chance for rain: 30%

Monday: Mostly sunny and warm. High 77. SSW wind 10-20 mph.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms. High 73. S wind 10-15 mph.

Wednesday: Cloudy with showers. High 65. SW wind 10-15 mph. Chance of rain: 50%.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy with a chance for showers. High 58. NW wind 10-15 mph. Chance of rain: 30%