Lea Zmurko: A sunny afternoon before tomorrows storms

August 21: Wrapping up the dry stretch this Wednesday

Another day with dry and comfortable conditions, temperatures will be in the mid 70s and clear conditions tonight will have overnight lows in the 50s. Tomorrow, a low pressure system will move in and bring showers and thunderstorms across northern Minnesota.

Another day with high pressure overhead will continue the pleasant conditions.

Most of the Northland will be dry with a slight chance of isolated showers across the Arrowhead this afternoon. Temperatures will be in the mid to upper 70s across the region with plenty of sunshine further inland.

Still a light breeze of the water today that will keep conditions cooler along the shore, but winds will die down overnight and encourage the development of some low-lying cloud for the following morning. The fog on Thursday morning will stick across northwest Wisconsin and up the Arrowhead.

Rain and thunderstorms are slated to arrive Thursday afternoon and last into the early hours of Friday morning. An inch of rain can be expected in some areas with localized heavy rainfall further west. Some isolated thunderstorms have the potential to produce small hail and elevated winds gusts.

After this system clears, winds will shift to the southwest and temperatures will take a jump into the mid-80s. This warming trend will continue into the start of next week.

Today

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 76. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Thursday

A 30 percent chance of showers after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday

Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Light south wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. East wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. East wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday

Sunny, with a high near 80. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.