Stormy Forecast For Popular Rochesterfest Events

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Rochesterfest organizers will be keeping close tabs on the weather as they prepare for the 2023 Rochesterfest Grand Parade this afternoon.

After weeks of extremely dry conditions, the National Weather Service says there is a risk for severe storms in parts of southeastern Minnesota today. At this point, the main threat for strong to severe thunderstorms will be in the late afternoon and into the evening in areas west and south of Rochester.

The Rochester forecast calls for a good chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening with the potential for an inch or two of rain. A high probability of additional showers and storms continues tonight and into Sunday with another half-inch to an inch of rain possible.

The Rochesterfest Grand Parade is scheduled to begin at 2 PM. The Youth of Rochester will be honored as the Grand Marshalls of the popular annual procession through areas of southwest Rochester. The parade route starts at the corner of 6th Street and 3rd Avenue Southwest and runs west on 6th Street before turning south on 7th Avenue. The procession will then continue south until it reaches 10th Street, where it will travel east on both 10th and 11th Streets before heading north on 6th Avenue Southwest. The final leg of the parade will run along the western edge of Soldiers Field Park on George Gibbs Drive to 7th Street Southwest.

Weather permitting, the parade will be followed by the annual Party in the Park featuring a performance by Hair of the Dog from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with the headliner Incognito performing from 7:30 until 10:30 p.m. There will also be a Pre-Party in the Park by Nostalgic No Names from 2:30 until 4 PM, along with a drone race at the East Ball Field at Soldiers Field Park from 4 until 5:30 p.m.