Strong to severe storms possible Thursday, then cooler



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It’ll feel summerlike Thursday as temperatures soar into the 80s across southern Minnesota. A developing system will touch off storms throughout the day and some could be severe.

Severe storms possible Thursday followed by a cooldown

Temperatures will be warm again Thursday. Enjoy those readings because we probably won’t be this warm again for a week or two if forecast models are to be believed. Highs will be back in the 70s with 60s northeast and cooler readings near Lake Superior.

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Forecast highs Thursday
National Weather Service

Dew points will be another thing you’ll notice. They have gone up overnight and will continue to do so Thursday ahead of a cold front. We could see dew points Thursday afternoon in southern Minnesota near 60 degrees, which is muggy for April.

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Forecast dew points 5 a.m. Thursday through 10 p.m.
College of DuPage weather lab

That added moisture and front will be the focus for more potential severe weather later Thursday. This will be our third round of possible severe weather in less than two weeks. That is rather unusual for April.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center forecasts a slight risk (level 2 of 5) for severe storms Thursday afternoon and evening for portions of southern Minnesota.

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Severe weather outlook for Thursday
National Weather Service

There will likely be some spotty showers ahead of the front already during the day Thursday, but thunderstorms will develop ahead of the front mid to late afternoon into the evening and track east.

Those initial storm cells could produce an isolated tornado or two with the bigger threats being large hail and some damaging wind gusts.

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Forecast precipitation 9 a.m. through 10 p.m. Thursday
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

The setup Thursday doesn’t look as impressive as last Friday or Monday, however. The greatest tornado threat is south into Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.

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Forecast severe weather breakdown for Thursday
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

We also have red flag warnings due to critical fire conditions again for western Minnesota Thursday afternoon as drier air moves back in and gusty west winds develop.

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Red flag warnings Thursday
National Weather Service, via Pivotal Weather

Interestingly, today’s critical fire weather conditions are being driven by a “dry line,” something we don’t see a lot of in Minnesota. You can see a big drop in relative humidity late Thursday afternoon in western Minnesota extending southwest into Nebraska.

The actual cold front is farther behind that into the central Dakotas. This dry air is originating from the high desert areas of New Mexico and Colorado, being pushed northeast ahead of the cold front and behind the surge of higher dew points Thursday.

RH vs TEMPS
Forecast relative humidity (left) and temperatures (right) at 4 p.m. Thursday
NOAA, via WeatherBell Analytics

Behind it, temperatures drop to seasonable levels for Friday and the weekend. Highs Friday will be mostly in the 50s and 60s.

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Forecast highs Friday
National Weather Service

Another storm system looks to bring mostly rain and garden variety thunderstorms late Sunday into Monday.

It could be a decent rainfall for central and southern Minnesota. Total forecast rainfall (including Thursday’s rainfall) through early Tuesday could be in the 1 to 2-inch range for a large area:

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Forecast total rainfall through early Tuesday
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather



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A Republican lawmaker charged in an alcohol-related driving offense won’t have to appear in court again until after the Legislature adjourns for the year.

A June 10 arraignment hearing is set for Rep. Elliott Engen, a Lino Lakes Republican who faces three misdemeanor charges following an arrest early Friday. He was stopped for speeding and other infractions in White Bear Lake; officers detected alcohol and he later tested well above the legal limit for driving, according to a citation.

Engen has apologized for a lapse in judgment; he promised to learn from his actions and “do better.” Aside from being a second-term legislator, he is also a candidate for state auditor.

A second lawmaker, GOP Rep. Walter Hudson, was in Engen’s truck at the time of the stop and an open bottle of alcohol was found in a rear seat. Hudson, a second-term legislator from Albertville, was in possession of a permitted handgun, which could cause him legal problems if he is determined to have been intoxicated.

Police officers wrote in their report that Hudson disclosed he had the gun as the truck was being searched. The report said police took the firearm for safekeeping and said he could pick it up at a later time, which Hudson agreed to.

“I regret the poor decisions that were made during this incident, and commend the White Bear Police Department for their professional response,” Hudson said in a written statement. “I’m grateful that no harm was done to ourselves and others.”

Two lawmakers stand and look around
Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, (center) and Rep. Bidal Duran, R-Bemidji, (right) join other Republican lawmakers gather in the House chambers Jan. 27, 2025.
Tim Evans for MPR News file

A third, unidentified passenger was in the truck as well, according to police. Hudson and that person were transferred to the police department until they could arrange rides.

The Minnesota lawmakers had been at the Capitol late into the evening Thursday as the House debated procedural motions on gun, immigration and social media legislation. The motions failed on 67-67 votes.

There is no indication yet that either Hudson nor Engen had been drinking on Capitol grounds, which would be a violation of a House rule against consumption of alcohol or drugs in spaces under that chamber’s control.

According to a White Bear Lake Police report, Engen initially said he had not been drinking when asked by the police officer who pulled him over — “nothing at all,” he is quoted as saying. He performed a field sobriety test, which the report says showed signs of impairment.

Engen gave a preliminary breath sample there, the report says, which estimated a 0.142 blood alcohol level. After he was taken by squad car to the police department “Engen spontaneously stated, ‘Sir, I had a drink three hours ago,’” the report says.

He told the Minnesota Star Tribune in an interview Monday that he had also consumed alcohol in the afternoon on Thursday as well.

Engen is charged with two impaired driving offenses and speeding. White Bear Lake police also said he was driving a vehicle with expired registration and an inoperable headlight.

Engen has not returned calls from MPR News. A court docket lists a “notice of appearance” on Tuesday.

He is being represented in the criminal case by Chris Madel, an Excelsior attorney who waged a brief Republican campaign for governor.



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