Rain returns to the Twin Cities on Wednesday, with light showers starting early and tapering off in the evening.

After the rain clears in the evening, it will stay dry into the night. The next wave of rain will arrive Thursday afternoon and persist through the night.

Severe thunderstorm warnings in southern Minnesota

The National Weather Service Wednesday afternoon issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the southwestern corner of Minnesota.

As of 6:30 p.m., those alerts have expired, with the severe weather threat remaining to the south of the Minnesota border.

On Thursday, there's also a chance for severe weather, with a marginal risk in central and southern Minnesota.

Extended stretch of rain 

Widespread, steady rain expands north on Thursday, especially later in the day. By nightfall, it'll be stormy with soaking rains.

Over the next three days, the Twin Cities area could see somewhere between 2 and 3 inches of rain, NEXT Weather Meteorologists say.

Highs will reach into the upper 60s on Friday with rain drying from west to east across the state.

The metro will get a break from the rain Saturday with highs around 70. Rain chances return Sunday night through next week.

Temps will climb from the 70s on Saturday to the 80s on Monday and onward.

Air quality alert

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert Wednesday afternoon for central and southern Minnesota. That alert will run until 11 p.m. Thursday.

Affected areas include the Twin Cities metro area, Brainerd, Alexandria, Albert Lea, St. Cloud, Hinckley, Mankato, Moorhead and Duluth.

The air quality is expeceted to reach the orange AQI, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups are encoruaged to limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outside.

The MPCA says smoke from wildfires in Canada moved into Minnesota behind a cold front. 

Rain is expected to help reduce smoke levels in some parts of the state, but it may still linger through the end of Thursday.

• NEXT Weather