Brandon Weatherz: Rain returns Wednesday

Our Tuesday began with early morning fog and near-surface smoke. Northeast Minnesota is now in an Air Quality Alert until 12 am Thursday with sensitive groups affected. The Alert continues until 12 pm Thursday in Wisconsin and until 10 pm CST Tuesday for the U.P. of Michigan.

Our Tuesday is warm with inland areas in upper 70s to low 80s. An east wind will keep lakeside areas in the 60s. We look west of Lake Superior across northern Minnesota for thunderstorm chances in the afternoon and evening.

A more widespread chance for showers and thunderstorms reaches across the Northland from the west overnight through Wednesday morning. We look south of the Twin Ports Wednesday afternoon and evening for a stray storm that may be capable of severe hail and winds. The potential for heavy rain and locally high totals is more widespread across the region.

Areas of dense fog are possible Wednesday evening and overnight into Thursday. Thursday will feature isolated showers and thunderstorms from the north in the afternoon and evening. We should then be dry and seasonably warm through the weekend.

Today: Areas of fog before 8 am, then partly cloudy. High 76. E wind 5-10 mph.

Tonight: Overcast with a chance for showers late. Low 55. E wind 2-8 mph. Chance of rain: 40%

Tomorrow: Cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms. High 66. E wind 5-15 mph. Chance for rain: 70%

Tomorrow night: Cloudy with showers and areas of fog. Low 56. E wind 5-10 mph. Chance of rain: 70%

Thursday: Partly sunny with isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 77. SE wind 5-10 mph. Chance of rain: 50%

Friday: Mostly sunny with a slight chance for a stray shower. High 76. NW wind 5-10 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. High 78. N wind 5-10 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. High 78. E wind 5-10 mph.

Monday: Partly sunny with isolated showers and thunderstorms. High 80. E wind 5-10 mph. Chance of rain: 30%