Late week weather serves up everything from hot to cold to stormy in Minnesota

It felt a lot like spring Thursday in the Twin Cities and across southern Minnesota. On Friday, summer will be in the air.

But storms are expected to roll in Friday night, and on Saturday, a possible mix of rain and snow will provide stark reminders that winter is hardly over.

Minnesota’s theater of seasons were on full display this week with above normal temperatures Thursday close to record highs. Conditions are expected to sour Friday night into Saturday with potential thunderstorms and a temperature freefall, ending with enough snow to whiten the lawn.

“With rapidly changing conditions expected Friday through the weekend, including our first chance of severe weather, make sure you have multiple ways to receive watches, warnings and forecast updates,” the National Weather Service said.

In recent weeks, Minnesota has been no stranger to these wild swings in weather, a phenomenon known as “weather whiplash.”

The roller-coaster ride started with sunny skies and a high in the mid- to upper 60s on Thursday. It’s expected to peak Friday with temperatures in the low 70s — conditions more reminiscent of beach weather. The record high of 73 set in 2012 in the Twin Cities could go by the wayside: The Weather Service predicts a high of 75 degrees.

By Friday night, a cross-country storm is expected to take a swipe at the state. A risk of strong to severe storms is possible from Red Wing to Albert Lea and across southeastern Minnesota.

Rain will change to a wintry mix with snow across western Minnesota early Saturday, and a few hours of blizzard conditions are possible.

By Saturday night, temperatures are expected to drop by 50 degrees and rain will change to snow across much of the state. Though snow totals are expected to be on the light side, high winds could make travel difficult, the Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said.

“Areas of blowing snow and possibly blizzard conditions may cause dangerous travel due to low visibility,” the center said.

Expected highs in the 30s and blustery winds on Sunday will make it feel more like March.

The system is expected to drop 1 to 2 feet of snow across the Sierra Nevada mountains and Northern California before strengthening as it moves into the Plains.

A severe weather outbreak is possible in the Mississippi River Valley and parts of the western Ohio/Tennessee valleys. Severe thunderstorms are possible across eastern Missouri, southeast Iowa and into Illinois, the Storm Prediction Center said.

A calmer and more seasonable start to the workweek is on tap for Monday, with highs in the Twin Cities in the 50s, the Weather Service said.