Summer of September: Still several days at 80 degrees this month?

We haven’t finished yet.

The calendar says mid-September is near. But the weather maps indicate that we are not yet done with the summer highs of the 1980s. At least for southern and western Minnesota.

Southern breezes return on Friday and it will produce highs in the 80s in southern Minnesota on Friday and Saturday. Even northern Minnesota will enjoy the 70s above nearly 80 degrees. And temperatures will reach nearly 90 degrees in southwestern Minnesota on Friday afternoon. Here’s a look at the high temperature forecast for Friday afternoon.

Saturday brings more than 80s to southern Minnesota, but a cool front pushing into northern Minnesota will bring temperatures down into the 60s. Sunday brings cooler, but still pleasant, temperatures to Minnesota.

Little to no rain is likely in Minnesota through Monday.

Over 80 coming this month?

Overall weather conditions tend to be milder than average as we approach the end of September. The NOAA average temperature outlook favors warmer-than-average temperatures overall through the end of September.

The precipitation forecast favors average to drier-than-average weather for Minnesota this month.

In recent runs, the temperature output of NOAA’s 16-day GFS model has steadily increased several days by 80 degrees later this month. The latest version suggests a possible chain of 80 around September 22-24.

This graph is a bit wobbly, but the yellow shading shows forecast temperatures above 80 degrees for the Twin Cities.

Enjoy this beautiful month known as September in Minnesota. Minnesota’s cooler fall shoe is lurking somewhere, but so far I don’t see it sailing that way.

Stay tuned.