688
FXUS63 KMPX 291812
AFDMPX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
112 PM CDT Tue Sep 29 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Rain continues to progress east across the region today. The
  rain will settle to the south tonight with fog developing area
  wide overnight.

- Another period of dry weather will return Wednesday, with the
  only chance of rain in the foreseeable future coming
  Saturday.

- Temperatures will remain near normal through early October.
  Any frost chances appear limited to Friday night in the
  coldest locations of northern MN/WI.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1139 AM CDT Tue Sep 29 2026

A band of moderate to locally heavy rain is progressing eastward
into eastern MN and northwest WI late this morning. Rainfall totals
have been in the 1/4 to 1/2 inch range, but some areas have had
around 3/4 inch such as in Alexandria. The showers will eventually
focus in western WI later this afternoon as the mid level trough
swings through with just a few light showers lingering in MN into
early evening. Mid and high level clouds will move out this evening.
With the surface front remaining well to the north until later
Wednesday, ample low level moisture will remain in place. Fog
development tonight is expected, especially in areas where low
level cloud depth becomes quite shallow. This is most probable
across central and western MN which would be furthest removed
from the trough axis, and the moisture transport ribbon from the
southern Plains to mid Mississippi Valley. Some of the fog may
become dense.

A warm and humid airmass will be in place Wednesday ahead of an
approaching cold front later in the day. 925 mb temps will range
from +18C to +21C, so highs in the mid to upper 70s are likely
with an 80 not being ruled out in a few places. Early morning
fog should burn off by mid to late morning. Dry air aloft and
the shallow moist layer at the surface will be able to keep the
fog from transitioning to low stratus that is more difficult to
scatter out. Increased temperatures closer to the NBM 75th
percentile.

A quiet zonal flow pattern will dominate the first week of October.
This will keep temperatures mild and precip chances to a minimum.
Surface high pressure building in Friday may allow for one of the
cooler nights of the week Friday night and some patchy frost
formation is possible over northern MN/WI. Quick on the heels of the
departure of the surface high will be a somewhat vigorous short
wave Saturday afternoon and evening, bringing our only chance
of showers in the extended period.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1253 PM CDT Tue Sep 29 2026

RA continues to move from west to east across all MN sites this
afternoon. RNH and EAU can expect rain to arrive within the
next hour or so. Southwesterly winds between 10-12kts will
feature occasional gusts near 20kts this afternoon before
weakening this evening. Once the rain and cloud cover begin to
scatter out overnight, its expected that IFR/LIFR FG will
develop late tonight into early tomorrow morning. Thus, have
introduced tempo groups for FG at all sites around sunrise. Vsby
and cigs wont return back into MVFR until around 15-16z
timeframe Wednesday.

KMSP...Light to moderate rain will continue over the field for
at least the next two hours or so and then transitioning more
into scattered SHRA after 21z timeframe. MVFR/IFR cigs expected
to take hold by mid-afternoon and then remain mainly in IFR
category through at least the early morning hours. Did introduce
a TEMPO for FG around sunrise tomorrow. Conditions will improve
back into MVFR around 16z.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
THU...VFR. Wind NW 10-15G25 kts.
FRI...VFR. Wind variable 5 kts.
SAT...VFR. Chc MVFR SHRA. S bcmg SW Winds 5-10kts

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Borghoff
AVIATION...Dunleavy