000 ABUS30 KMSP 251713 SWSMN MINNESOTA WEATHER SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 1113 AM CST TUE MAR 25 2003 THINNING CLOUDS WERE EVIDENT ON SATELLITE IMAGERY THIS MORNING...NORTH AND EAST OF A LINE FROM EAST GRAND FORKS...TO HINCKLEY. FLURRIES WERE REPORTED IN THE INTERNATIONAL FALLS AND LITTLE FORK AREAS...WHILE THE REST OF THE STATE REMAINED CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY. 11 AM TEMPERATURES RANGED FROM 30 DEGREES AT FLAG ISLAND...TO 50 DEGREES AT PIPE STONE AND WINONA. THE CLOUDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THINNING ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA...WHILE AN INCREASE IN CLOUD COVER IS ANTICIPATED OVER WESTERN...CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF THE STATE. A FEW SHOWERS MAY DEVELOP AROUND MANKATO...MARSHALL...REDWOOD FALLS AND NEW ULM DUE TO A WEAK RIPPLE IN THE ATMOSPHERE EXPECTED TO PASS THROUGH THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE 40S AND 50S THIS AFTERNOON. THE QUIET WEATHER PATTERN IS EXPECTED CONTINUE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE WEATHER TURNS MUCH MORE UNSETTLED TO FINISH OFF THE WORK WEEK. LATEST COMPUTER MODELS INDICATE A STRONG STORM SYSTEM IS LIKELY TO AFFECT MINNESOTA AND THE UPPER MIDWEST THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WITH SIGNIFICANT RAIN AND SNOW POSSIBLE. THE EXACT TRACK OF THIS STORM SYSTEM IS STILL NOT KNOWN...HOWEVER IT IS LOOKING MORE LIKELY THAT ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL OCCUR OVER PORTIONS OF NORTHERN...CENTRAL AND WESTERN MINNESOTA THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. PERSONS SHOULD STAY ABREAST OF THIS DEVELOPING EARLY SPRING STORM. $$ WJC