Spotty Saturday Showers, Brighter Sunday Across Minnesota
October 2, 2026 | Three-day forecast: Friday, October 2–Sunday, October 4
Minnesota heads into the first weekend of October with a mix of sunshine and clouds Friday, scattered shower chances Saturday and brighter skies returning Sunday. Saturday will also bring stronger winds in some areas, but the National Weather Service expects generally light rainfall rather than a widespread washout across central and southern Minnesota.
Northern Minnesota
Friday: Thief River Falls, Bemidji and Duluth will see sunshine mixed with clouds. Afternoon highs should reach 61 degrees in Thief River Falls, 60 in Bemidji and 62 in Duluth. Overnight lows will fall into the middle to upper 40s.
Saturday: Clouds increase, with passing showers possible across all three communities. Highs will stay close to Friday’s readings, reaching approximately 60 to 62 degrees. The National Weather Service expects light rain across parts of the Northland into Saturday evening, particularly near the Canadian border.
Sunday: Sunshine returns, although Duluth could have a breezy morning. Highs should reach 61 in Thief River Falls, 58 in Bemidji and 63 in Duluth. Colder air settles in Sunday night, with the National Weather Service highlighting frost and freezing-temperature potential in parts of the Northland into Monday morning.
Central Minnesota
Friday: Morris, Willmar and St. Cloud will have a mix of sunshine and clouds, with highs around 61, 62 and 63 degrees, respectively. Friday-night temperatures will fall into the upper 40s, so an extra layer will come in handy for evening games and outdoor activities.
Saturday: Temperatures climb slightly, with highs near 66 in Morris and 65 in Willmar and St. Cloud. Breezy conditions accompany increasing clouds and spotty showers. Willmar and St. Cloud’s shower chances are focused later in the afternoon, while the National Weather Service expects scattered showers to continue eastward into the evening. Many locations may receive little or no rain.
Sunday: Conditions improve with partly to mostly sunny skies. Highs should reach 66 in Morris, 64 in Willmar and 66 in St. Cloud. Sunday night turns chilly, with lows near 42 in Morris and Willmar and 38 in St. Cloud.
Southern Minnesota
Friday: Sunshine will break through the clouds at times, with highs around 62 degrees in Marshall and Rochester and 63 in New Ulm. Overnight temperatures will settle into the middle 40s to around 50.
Saturday: Southwestern Minnesota gets the warmest temperatures in this outlook. Marshall should reach 70 degrees, but windy conditions and passing showers could interrupt outdoor plans. New Ulm reaches approximately 67, with breezes and a brief afternoon shower possible. Rochester has a quieter daytime forecast, with increasing clouds and a high near 65.
Sunday: Partly sunny skies return across these communities. Highs should reach 65 in Marshall and New Ulm and 66 in Rochester, followed by overnight lows in the lower 40s. Sunday offers a generally drier window for outdoor activities after Saturday’s scattered shower chances.
IMRN Chief Meteorologist Paul Trombley
