Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Minneapolis, MN

DISCUSSION
Issued at 301 AM CDT Wed Apr 30 2025

Mostly clear across southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin early this morning. Winds remain relatively calm for most, but will pick up and become southerly this morning. This shift will usher in warm air and push highs at least 10 degrees warmer today compared to yesterday. A low centered in the lower Midwest will brush past the region overnight tonight. At the same time, a low centered just north of the Canadian border will brush past the region to the north. This split flow will spare southern MN and western WI from the bulk of any impacts today, but will result in increased cloud cover later this evening. By early Thursday, the northern disturbance and associated cold front track close enough to bring light rain chances to western Minnesota. Things will move east from there, increasing rain chances to 40-50% across all of southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin by midday Thursday. PoPs of 60% or greater exist north of I-94, and this coincides with the highest QPF amounts. These 'high' amounts are only between 0.10-0.20", with SW MN potentially only seeing a few hundredths.
Keeping all of this in mind, this won't be a washout by any means, but it could be enough to ruin an outdoor paint project on Thursday.

After the front passes, highs will be slightly cooler again on Friday, with highs in the 50s (60s along Buffalo Ridge). The cooler highs (mid 50s) are in western WI, and this is due in part to lingering cloud cover from the departing cold front.
Clouds will push east throughout the day on Friday, clearing out for Friday night. This will lead to the coolest night of the period, and potentially the last of lows in the 30s for the season. Areas in central WI could dip down to freezing Friday night, but not any lower.

Looking to Saturday and beyond, we are going to get a sneak peek of summer! A large upper-level ridge will span the entirety of the CONUS from the Mexico to the Canadian border. This will allow ample heat to build into the region, and stay here for a bit. This will also allow for sunny skies to dominate the region. Winds will remain in check through Saturday before picking up slightly on Sunday into early next week (especially in western MN) as two 500mb vorticity maximums tango to our south and west. Above normal highs in the 70s and 80s will stick around through the first week of May, with little to no signal of any significant weather.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/
Issued at 601 AM CDT Wed Apr 30 2025

VFR through most of the period, with lowering clouds near the end. Winds will prevail from the south around 10 to 15 kts today, gusting 20 to 25kts mostly in western MN. An approaching front will advect SCT/BKN VFR clouds late Wednesday, with associated light rain possible near the end of the period.

KMSP...Light rain showers are possible at the end of this period (Thursday morning). Confidence is low in how early rain could begin, so left out of TAF as more likely timeframe is later in the day on Thursday.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ FRI...VFR. Wind N 5-10G15 kts.
SAT...VFR. Wind SW 5-10 kts.
SUN...VFR. Wind S 5-10G15 kts.

MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MN...None.
WI...None.