Minnesota is set for a cloudy and cool Monday, 21 September, with light rain moving across the southern part of the state and occasional sprinkles possible in the Twin Cities, forecasters say.
The unsettled weather will be most persistent across central and southern Minnesota, while northern areas should see brighter spells. Easterly winds of 5 to 10mph will add to the autumnal feel.
Temperatures in central and southern parts of the state are expected to reach the mid to upper 50s Fahrenheit, or around 13C to 15C. Northern Minnesota will be milder, with highs in the low 60s Fahrenheit, while Minneapolis and the wider Twin Cities area are forecast to reach about 59F (15C).
That is well below the average Twin Cities high of 71F (22C) for this time of year. Light showers will move eastwards through southern Minnesota during the day, with a few lingering patches of rain or drizzle possible on Monday night as the cloud begins to break.
Overnight temperatures will fall into the 40s Fahrenheit across central and southern Minnesota, with readings dropping into the 30s in the far north.
Sunshine returns for the first day of autumn
Conditions are expected to improve on Tuesday, 22 September, the first day of autumn. Mostly sunny skies, a few passing clouds and highs in the mid-60s Fahrenheit will bring a modest recovery in temperatures.
Sunny weather should continue into Wednesday, when temperatures are forecast to rise into the upper 60s. The next chance of showers is expected on Thursday, mainly in western Minnesota.
Temperatures are then likely to return closer to seasonal levels from Friday through the weekend, with highs in the low 70s Fahrenheit across much of the state.
