For a third consecutive weekend, Minnesotans are casting wary eyes on the horizon in anticipation of more stormy, muggy weather.

This round should be short-lived and more modest in clout, however, bearing scant resemblance to the thunderstorms and high winds that battered the resort-heavy Brainerd lakes area two weekends ago and did much the same to parts of the Twin Cities this past weekend.

The National Weather Service (NWS) is envisioning up to a quarter-inch of rain starting about 3 a.m. Friday, then another dose before 7 a.m. that could add a half-inch more by 7 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe with damaging winds and large hail.

Then the warm-up kicks in, with the forecast calling for a high near 90 and enough humidity in the air to make conditions feel like 97 or so, the Weather Service added.

Saturday and Sunday look pretty similar, according to the NWS. Highs in the upper 80s and no rain, unless that slight chance pans out after dark on Sunday.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482