809 FXUS63 KMPX 091150 AFDMPXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 650 AM CDT Thu Oct 9 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Scattered rain showers & perhaps a few thunderstorms this evening across eastern Minnesota & western Wisconsin.
- A more active pattern likely leads to wetter weather late this weekend into next week.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 327 AM CDT Thu Oct 9 2025
Low temperatures early this morning are noticeably warmer than what they were 24-hours ago. However, a few sites in western WI especially east of the Hwy 63 corridor, could see another round of patchy frost this morning. Current satellite imagery showing a band of low-level stratus that is beginning to make its way into western MN from the Dakotas, which is a precursor to the leading edge of a cold front that is forecast to advance through MN/WI later tonight. Ahead of the front, enhanced warming during peak heating hours today will occur this afternoon thanks to a strong 30-40kt 850mb LLJ. Southwesterly wind gusts will increase between 20-25kts across western Minnesota where highs could reach the mid-70s. Across eastern MN and western WI, upper 60s to lower 70s can be expected. Forcing will increase later this afternoon as an upper-level Low sinks down from the Canadian Prairies region this evening. As this occurs, showers and thunderstorms are expected to initiate across eastern MN and eventually shift over to western WI overnight. Forecast soundings such as the NAM or GFS feature sufficient elevated CAPE that could support a couple of thunderstorms prior to losing surface heating. Although the more likely scenario would be areas of rain shower or sprinkles as a ~3kft dry surface layer will exist. As of now, forecast QPF ranges from a couple hundredths to near a tenth inch with higher amounts focused to western WI.
Once the cold front pushes through overnight tonight, conditions turn quiet for Friday and Saturday as a 1020mb surface high settles in over the northern plains. Provided a shift to NW`ly flow, temperatures are forecast to range a few degrees cooler especially on Friday in the 60s. By Sunday into a Monday, flow aloft will amplify and become SW`ly with troughing occurring over the Dakotas. As mentioned in previous discussions, ensemble guidance continues to support a favorable potential of seeing rainfall for much of MN and WI. Portions of west-central MN could see as much a half-inch of rainfall whereas farther eastward seeing a few tenths of an inch or less. The pattern remains active through much of next week, with guidance highlighting another likely system for the Upper Midwest midweek providing widespread rainfall.
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.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 633 AM CDT Thu Oct 9 2025
Confidence increasing that a line of scattered rain showers will develop this afternoon/evening and could impact KSTC, KMSP, KRNH and KEAU. Continued with the Prob30 for this line of showers, but may transition to a tempo closer to when it develops. Showers will be brief, with perhaps a reduction in visibility, and some gusty winds. There is a non-zero chance for thunder, but the probability is too low to mention in the TAFs. Winds will be southeast ahead of the showers, and become northwest after they pass through.
KMSP...Continued with a prob30 this evening for scattered rain showers. There is a small chance for thunder, but did not include mention in the TAFs. Winds will be southeast, but then a become more southwest and eventually northwest overnight.
/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ FRI...VFR. Wind 5-15 kts. SAT...VFR. Wind SE 10-15G20kts. SUN...VFR. Chc MVFR/-RA. Wind SE 10-15G25kts.
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.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...None. WI...None.
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DISCUSSION...Dunleavy AVIATION...JRB
NWS MPX Office Area Forecast Discussion