Warm Wednesday Gives Way to a Cooler Start to October
September 30, 2026 | Three-day forecast: Wednesday, September 30–Friday, October 2
Minnesota closes September with a warmer Wednesday before cooler weather arrives to start October. Sunshine returns to many northern and central communities, while southeastern Minnesota could hold onto morning rain and additional clouds. By Thursday and Friday, temperatures fall back into the upper 50s and 60s across the communities covered in this outlook. IMRN_Weather_Story_September_30…
Northern Minnesota
Wednesday: The northwest gets a brighter, warmer day. Thief River Falls should reach 71 degrees under mostly sunny skies, while Bemidji reaches 72 with partial sunshine. Duluth will see partly to mostly sunny skies and a high near 74. Fog and low clouds could linger in parts of northeastern Minnesota during the morning before conditions improve.
Thursday: Cooler air arrives despite plenty of sunshine in the northwest. Highs fall to around 60 degrees in Thief River Falls and Bemidji, with afternoon breezes developing. Duluth stays a little milder, reaching approximately 66 degrees with partial sunshine.
Friday: Temperatures remain on the cool side. Thief River Falls starts with some sunshine before clouds increase, with a high near 59 degrees. Bemidji will be partly sunny with a high around 60, while Duluth reaches about 62 under mostly sunny skies.
Colder nights also deserve attention. Bemidji’s Thursday-night low is forecast near 35 degrees, compared with around 40 in Thief River Falls and Duluth. The National Weather Service is highlighting frost and freeze potential in parts of the Northland beginning Thursday night into Friday morning. That is a forecast concern—not an announcement that a frost or freeze warning has been issued.
Central Minnesota
Wednesday: A warmer afternoon provides a break from the recent wet weather. Morris will have plenty of sunshine and a high near 78 degrees. Willmar reaches approximately 77 with partial sunshine, while St. Cloud climbs to around 78 under sunny skies.
Thursday: Sunshine mixes with clouds, but temperatures drop noticeably. Morris and Willmar should reach about 66 degrees, with St. Cloud near 67. Overnight lows fall into the lower to middle 40s in these communities.
Friday: The cooler pattern continues. Expect a mix of clouds and sunshine around Morris and Willmar, with highs near 62 and 61 degrees, respectively. St. Cloud will be mostly sunny with a high around 63. The current daily forecasts do not highlight additional rain in these communities through Friday.
Southern Minnesota
Wednesday: Conditions improve faster in the west than in the southeast. Marshall will be partly sunny with a high near 78 degrees. New Ulm also reaches about 78, with morning clouds giving way to occasional afternoon sunshine. Rochester could see periods of morning rain before remaining mostly cloudy, with a high near 76.
Thursday: Cooler, less humid weather settles in. Highs should reach approximately 64 degrees in Marshall, 67 in New Ulm and 65 in Rochester, with clouds mixed with sunshine. Marshall will also have breezy conditions during the morning.
Friday: Sunshine becomes more prominent, but temperatures stay cool. Marshall reaches around 61 degrees with partial sunshine. New Ulm will be mostly sunny and near 63, while Rochester gets a sunny day with a high around 65.
IMRN Chief Meteorologist Paul Trombley
