A low pressure system crossing the region today is responsible for rain and an eventual wind shift. Our Thursday starts with widespread showers in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin, and we’ll gradually dry out from the west and southwest through the morning and afternoon. Areas of fog have set up this morning with locally dense for high terrain areas of the Head of Lake Superior. A Dense Fog Advisory has been issued for Carlton County and South St. Louis County until noon. Skies clear this evening, then cloud cover remains rather minimal tonight with patchy fog developing.

Highs today range from near 50 in Ely to mid-60s for much of east central Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. An east wind in the morning shifts out of the west by the evening, allowing temps to briefly push into the 50s near the lake. Friday is unseasonably warm with inland areas in low 70s to low 80s. An east wind redevelops to keep lakeside areas in the 50s.

Tonight will have shower and thunderstorm chances reach back into north central Minnesota from the west, then a low chance for isolated showers and storms will be with us through the day Friday, mostly in northern Minnesota. Widespread showers and thunderstorms will sweep the Northland ahead of a cold front Friday night and Saturday morning. Wisconsin keeps the focus for afternoon storms on Saturday that may be capable of hail and gusty winds.

Saturday’s cold front will also trigger a wind shift out of the west, allowing temps in lakeside areas to get a boost in the afternoon. Highs across the region will be in low 70s to low 80s. Widespread 70s are out there again on Sunday with a breezy southwest wind. Rain chances make a comeback Sunday night and Monday.

Today: Showers, mostly before 1 pm. Cloudy and breezy with patchy fog. High 56. E wind shifting to W 10-15 mph. Chance of rain: 60%. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain expected.

Tonight: Partly cloudy with patchy fog. Low 43. SW wind 2-8 mph.

Tomorrow: Partly cloudy with a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms. High 69. SW wind shifting to E 5-15 mph.

Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms. Low 49. E wind 5-15 mph.

Saturday: Partly sunny and breezy with a chance for showers and thunderstorms. High 71. SE wind shifting to SW 10-20 mph. Chance of rain: 40%.

Sunday: Partly cloudy and breezy. High 70. SW wind 10-15 mph.

Monday: Mostly cloudy with a chance for showers. High 66. NE wind 5-15 mph. Chance of rain: 40%.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy and breezy with a chance for showers. High 63. NNE wind 10-15 mph. Chance of rain: 30%.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy and breezy with a slight chance for showers. High 61. WNW wind 10-15 mph.