MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota will deal with a couple of rounds of storms on Tuesday, with early activity up north and a more widespread disturbance in the evening.
The first wave will bring a lot of rain, damaging winds and possibly hail across northern Minnesota. Things should calm down up north by late morning.
The Twin Cities will see some sunshine early, along with some humidity. Highs will reach the mid-80s.
Another wave of storms will develop out west in the late afternoon. A line of storms stretching across the state from north to south will move east, hitting the metro between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. There is a slight risk of severe weather with this line, and a flood watch is in effect.
WCCO
Things will cool to the lower 70s on Wednesday, then warm up a bit on Thursday and even more on Friday.
Wednesday should be mainly dry, but there will be a chance for showers every other day for the rest of the week, and Saturday could bring more storms.
Joseph Dames joined the WCCO team during the winter of 2022. He is currently the weekend morning meteorologist. You can also catch him putting together weather, science, and other environmental stories during the week.
MINNEAPOLIS — Sunday is off to a quiet start across Minnesota, but storms will return later in the day.
Clouds will continue to increase through the morning as our next front approaches. While we’ll be dry most of the day, storms chances will gradually return in the afternoon and evening.
Some of those storms could be severe in western Minnesota, with wind and hail being the main threats.
WCCO
A couple of storms could linger into early Monday morning, but then we’ll dry out and clear up. Another system will likely bring more storms late Tuesday into Wednesday.
Temperatures will stay in the low 80s through Tuesday before cooling back into the low 70s with lots of sunshine by the end of the week.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, weather has been a passion for Adam for as long as he can remember! Whether it was thunderstorms or winter storms, Adam has always been geeking out. After earning his meteorology degree from Penn State, he made his way to the Ohio Valley to forecast for WTOV.
MINNEAPOLIS — During Minnesota Twins games, the duties of the grounds crew are evident, like when they are dragging the infield. But there is much more to the work that takes place when the cameras are off.
The grounds crew mows, waters, edges, rolls and rakes with painstaking detail. WCCO’s Derek James and Mike Augustyniak got a chance to see what they do when there’s rain in the forecast.
MINNEAPOLIS — Showers and storms are possible this Memorial Day, though it won’t be a total washout.
The Twin Cities will be dry early, but showers will increase from east to west by midmorning. A few storms could be embedded in those showers. Things will get active again in the afternoon and evening, particularly in southeastern Minnesota. Damaging winds are possible.
The forecast high in the Twin Cities will be in the mid-60s.
Aside from some lingering showers Tuesday morning and some activity late Thursday, the middle of the week looks dry. It will also be mainly sunny, with temperatures reaching the mid to upper 70s by Thursday.
Showers and storms could return late in the week and continue into the weekend.
Joseph Dames joined the WCCO team during the winter of 2022. He is currently the weekend morning meteorologist. You can also catch him putting together weather, science, and other environmental stories during the week.
MINNEAPOLIS — Clouds are already moving into the Twin Cities, and while the early part of Sunday will be dry, rain will return later on.
Showers will arrive in the evening and gradually pick up in intensity, with some storms possible. The rain will continue into Monday morning before wrapping up.
Highs will fall back into the 70s on Sunday and down to the 60s by midweek.
More widespread heavy rain and storms are possible on Tuesday as a cold front stalls to our south.
Another system could bring more rain by the end of the week. Rain totals for the next several days will be in the 2 to 4 inch range.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, weather has been a passion for Adam for as long as he can remember! Whether it was thunderstorms or winter storms, Adam has always been geeking out. After earning his meteorology degree from Penn State, he made his way to the Ohio Valley to forecast for WTOV.
MINNEAPOLIS — An air quality alert remains in effect for much of Minnesota on Monday.
Wildfire smoke drifting down from Canada is causing poor air quality in parts of the state. The alert was set to expire at noon, but was extended to 11 p.m. in the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota. For the metro, air quality is at the orange level, which means it is unsafe for those in sensitive groups, like the elderly, children and those with heart or lung conditions. Farther south, air quality has reached the red level, which means it is unhealthy for everyone.
After a toasty Mother’s Day, temperatures will be cooler, but still right around average. The Twin Cities should top out in the lower 70s.
Tuesday will be similar to Monday, minus the air quality concerns — though some haze could still linger. Expect highs in the lower 70s, sun and a calm wind.
If you didn’t catch the northern lights over the weekend, you may have missed your shot. It will be much harder to see Monday night.
Wednesday will start out dry with rain moving in by the evening, though nothing severe is expected. The rain should continue into Thursday morning before drying later in the day.
Temperatures stay around average all week before possibly taking a jump this weekend.
Joseph Dames joined the WCCO team during the winter of 2022. He is currently the weekend morning meteorologist. You can also catch him putting together weather, science, and other environmental stories during the week.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, weather has been a passion for Adam for as long as he can remember! Whether it was thunderstorms or winter storms, Adam has always been geeking out. After earning his meteorology degree from Penn State, he made his way to the Ohio Valley to forecast for WTOV.
Joseph Dames joined the WCCO team during the winter of 2022. He is currently the weekend morning meteorologist. You can also catch him putting together weather, science, and other environmental stories during the week.
MINNEAPOLIS — A winter weather advisory is in effect in the Twin Cities Tuesday as rain is expected to transition back to snow, making for a potentially fraught morning commute.
The advisory will be in place through 10 a.m. and also affect central, western and most of southern Minnesota. The northwestern corner of the state will be under a winter storm warning until later in the day, with higher snow totals expected. A NEXT Weather Alert is also in place.
Cold air will rush in Tuesday morning, transitioning the falling rain to snow, likely right around 7 a.m. in the metro. There may be a brief period of a wintry mix that leads to ice. We’ll dry out later on. When it’s all said and done, the Twin Cities could see another 2 to 3 inches of snow.
WCCO
Temperatures will start out in the mid-30s, and they’ll only drop throughout the day. Most of the day will be spent in the 20s.
Wednesday will be very cold to start, with a freeze expected. Another icy commute is possible.
Thursday will be taken over by high pressure, with some wind and plenty of sunshine. Highs will be in the mid to upper 30s.
Temperatures could reach the 40s this weekend, with a few weak disturbances possible.
Joseph Dames joined the WCCO team during the winter of 2022. He is currently the weekend morning meteorologist. You can also catch him putting together weather, science, and other environmental stories during the week.
MINNEAPOLIS — As a spring snowstorm moves through Minnesota, roads across the state are starting to become perilous for drivers.
In the Twin Cities, most major highways are at least partially covered, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s 511 website. Some roadways in the western metro, including highways 100 and 169, are fully covered, MnDOT reports. In the southern metro, Interstate 35W from Richfield to Burnsville is fully covered.
There have been a handful of crashes in the Twin Cities, including one in Burnsville that killed a 51-year-old Lakeville woman. The Minnesota State Patrol said her vehicle left the roadway on Interstate 35E and hit a tree around 12:15 p.m.
Elsewhere in the state, many of western Minnesota’s roads are fully covered. Southern Minnesota is looking clear, according to MnDOT, outside of parts of the western and eastern corners.
Northern Minnesota’s roads are uncovered as of yet, though conditions are expected to deteriorate as the snow moves north.
Much of the state is under a winter storm warning, and Sunday through Tuesday will be NEXT Weather Alert days as this snowy system moves through. Many spots could see half a foot or more of snow when it’s all said and done, and Monday could bring rain as well.
Joseph Dames joined the WCCO team during the winter of 2022. He is currently the weekend morning meteorologist. You can also catch him putting together weather, science, and other environmental stories during the week.
ELY, Minn. — Every year, biologists take flight to count moose in Minnesota.
They’re in the process of doing it right now in the Superior National Forest near Ely.
WCCO wondered how the state’s largest wild animal is faring in such an usual winter. As Erin Hassanzadeh uncovered in this Next Weather Investigation, it’s giving them a run for their money — for a population that’s already a fraction of what it once was.
On the fringes of Minnesota’s North Woods, Department of Natural Resources helicopters have a bird’s eye view where you can see moose clipping through the forest.
“You get a whole different perspective on the landscape,” said Mike Schrage, a Fond du Lac wildlife biologist.
The state keeps tabs on the population and sets hunting quotas for tribes by doing its annual survey. Crews fly in helicopters estimating moose populations.
Collar trackers reveal how moose territory is evolving, something biologists are watching closely as the population dropped nearly 60% since 2009, from 7,840 in 2009 to 3,290 in 2023. Full population numbers from 2005-2023 can be found by clicking here.
WCCO asked if experts know why.
“A lot of theories and some data,” said Schrage.
These days, most Minnesota moose call the Arrowhead region home. But it wasn’t always that way.
WCCO
Four thousand moose used to live in northwestern Minnesota in the ’80s. Now, it’s fewer than 100.
“That rate of decline for a population that large is really unprecedented,” said DNR Wildlife Health Program Director Michelle Carstensen.
This year, weather is getting in the way of the annual survey.
“It’s been hard. The warmer conditions, the low ceilings, foggy, misty has made it challenging to find flyable days this year,” said Schrage, who is part of the crew doing the assessment.
Our lack of snow isn’t helping either.
“It makes the moose pop out better when there’s a consistent white background,” said Schrage.
And it’s not just a setback for researchers. It’s a huge problem for moose, too. They can withstand minus 70 degree temps.
“If moose are getting heat stress, they’re probably not eating like they should,” said Schrage “Just like you and I, we don’t feel like going out for a big meal on a hot day.”
What’s considered a hot day for a moose, you ask?
“Right around 20 degrees Fahrenheit,” said Schrage.
WCCO’s NEXT Weather team says Ely has had 65 days above that from Dec. 1 to Feb. 22.
Less snow also means better tick survival rates. They can swarm moose by the tens of thousands. The blood loss, with other factors, can be deadly or at least make it harder to produce viable calves. Pair that with brain worm concerns spread from a thriving whitetail deer population and you start to get the picture.
“So climate has these indirect effects as well as some direct effects that we’re just beginning to understand,” said Carstensen.
To do that, researchers put temperature sensors in moose. They ingest them and the sensors live in their stomach and provide five years of data
“What we observed was temperatures that were above normal for sustained amount of times and we believe that might be impacting their survival over the course of the next year,” said Carstensen.
Global warming could also be pushing the moose north in search of cooler temperatures.
There’s disease, predators and loss of habitat, but there are also efforts to make Minnesota hospitable to moose again.
“We’re trying to make sure we understand what quality habitat is for moose. So we hope to grow moose in Minnesota,” said Carstensen.
“Moose do well in some kinds of forests but that’s not the case for other kinds of animals and so you try to balance the two out there,” said Schrage.
WCCO found a stretch of the Superior National Forest that was scorched by the Greenwood Fire in 2021. It doesn’t look very picturesque to the news crew on the ground, but to a moose, it’s an ideal setting for grazing. They prefer new growth and the vegetation that grows right after wildfires, logging or severe weather blowdowns.
“Minnesotans identify with moose,” said Carstensen.
And despite the threat we all face in this warming climate, the work will continue to hold on to the natural wonders we’re lucky to have and to build a new future where our largest wild animal thrives.
“It’s part of our identity in northern Minnesota,” said Schrage. “It’s part of who we are up here.”
Erin is back home in the Twin Cities after stops in South Korea and Omaha. The Jefferson High School grad (Go Jags!) is excited to get back to storytelling in the community that raised her.
