Brandon Weatherz: Cooler and wetter weekend ahead

It’s the 11th day of August, and Duluth has finally picked up measurable rain! We have more opportunities for rain as we head through the weekend. However, keeping in mind that our weekly average of rain this time of year is about 0.86”, this stretch will help to prevent our rain deficit from growing, but it won’t be enough to provide much relief from the drought.

The first push of rain that arrived overnight will continue to move east toward the tip of the Arrowhead and the U.P. through the morning. Cloudy skies may be stubborn for the Arrowhead, cutting into potential for afternoon storms here. Areas of north central Minnesota that clear first will be the focus for initial storms in the afternoon that may produce hail up to 1.75” and 60 mph winds. That potential marches east southeast through the late afternoon and evening reaching the Head of Lake Superior, east central Minnesota, and northwest Wisconsin.

Storms taper off overnight with a few showers lingering north near the Canadian border. Saturday won’t bring much for accumulating rain, but there will be a chance for a passing shower for much of northeast Minnesota into northwest Wisconsin throughout the day. Widespread rain returns from the west through the day Sunday and lingers into Monday. That round may similarly bring widespread accumulation and heavy rain may bring locally high totals.

Our Friday is cooler with highs in the 60s surrounding Lake Superior’s shores and across the Arrowhead. Temps rise into the 70s looking south of U.S. Hwy 2 with a high near 80 for Hinckley. Fog is possible overnight into tomorrow morning and again tomorrow night into Sunday. Both nights see lows in low to mid-50s. Highs Saturday range from upper 60s to upper 70s looking from north to south. Sunday features mid-60s for much of northeast Minnesota with low 70s in northwest Wisconsin.

Today: Cloudy and cooler. Light rain in the morning, then scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. High 67. E wind 5-15 mph. Chance of rain: 60%

Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then cloudy with patchy fog. W wind 5-10 mph. Low 54. Chance of rain: 50%

Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy with a passing shower possible. High 72. NNE wind 5-10 mph. Chance of rain: 30%

Tomorrow night: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance for showers. Patchy fog. E wind 5-10 mph. Low 55. E wind 5-10 mph.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy with showers, mostly after noon. High 67. E wind 10-15 mph. Chance of rain: 70%

Sunday night: Cloudy with a steady rain. Low 55. NE wind 10-15 mph. Chance of rain: 80%

Monday: Mostly cloudy and breezy with a chance for showers. High 70. NE wind 10-15 mph. Chance of rain: 40%

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High 78. W wind 10-15 mph.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance for showers. High 76. NW wind 10-15 mph.