A rainy mix greeted parts of southern Minnesota early Tuesday, creating a damp and occasionally slippery start to the day before conditions gradually improved. Light rain was the main feature of the morning, but a few areas also saw brief appearances of snowflakes or sleet pellets. These wintry elements were not widespread and did not cause any measurable accumulation, yet they were enough to make roads slick in spots, especially for drivers heading out during the morning commute.
Most of the moisture stayed well south of the Twin Cities metro, although some sprinkles reached as far north as the Interstate 494 area. Even so, the rain was light and short-lived, fading away by midday as the weather system moved eastward and out of the state. Once it passed, the atmosphere began to settle down, setting up a quiet and seasonable afternoon for most of Minnesota.
The northern half of the state, especially areas north of the Interstate 94 corridor, enjoyed clearer skies as sunshine broke through by midday. This helped brighten the second half of the day and made conditions feel more comfortable despite the cool temperatures. Meanwhile, communities south of the metro held on to thicker cloud cover for much longer, giving them a grayer and slightly cooler feel for the afternoon.
Temperatures across Minnesota remained in the upper 30s and low 40s—fairly typical for this time of year. In the Twin Cities, the afternoon high hovered around 42 degrees with a light easterly breeze at 5 to 10 miles per hour. The wind wasn’t strong enough to be bothersome but added a slight chill. As the evening approached, temperatures were expected to drop back into the 30s, making for a cool but calm night.
As the week moves forward, Wednesday is shaping up to be mostly cloudy across the state. These clouds will keep temperatures steady, with highs again landing in the upper 30s and low 40s. Northern Minnesota might experience a couple of very light rain showers, though these are not expected to be significant or disruptive. For most of the state, Wednesday will simply feel like a typical late-fall day—cool, cloudy, and quiet.
A mild shift arrives on Thursday, when warmer air moves in and nudges temperatures closer to the 50-degree mark. This slight warmup will be a noticeable improvement, especially for those who have felt the chill of the earlier part of the week. Conditions will still be mostly cloudy, but the increased warmth will make the day feel more pleasant.
Friday brings even better news: skies are expected to clear, offering plenty of sunshine. Although temperatures will dip just a few degrees compared to Thursday, the sunshine will make the day feel bright and comfortable. This brief cool-down will be slight and short-lived.
The weekend is currently on track to deliver even warmer temperatures, rising into the low 50s. This is about 10 degrees warmer than the seasonal average, making it an ideal stretch of weather for outdoor plans, errands, or simply enjoying a break from the recent chill. Overall, after a damp start to the week, Minnesota is heading into a mild, calm, and pleasant stretch of weather heading into the weekend.
