With the weekend looking a little dreary, Austin could face some severe weather on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

NWS meteorologists forecast showers and thunderstorms tonight, mainly after 1 a.m., with less than an inch of rain possible. In addition, thunderstorms should roll through the area Saturday afternoon with between a quarter and a half inch of rain possible.

Thunderstorms aren’t uncommon in Minnesota this late in the year, according to Jeff Boyne, NWS meteorologist.

“Usually about two days every October, we get some thunderstorms,” he said.

Though it’s unclear whether storms will turn severe on Saturday, Boyne said NWS-La Crosse issues about three severe weather warnings, which include severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings, on average every October. In 2004, NWS La Crosse issued 10 such severe weather warnings, with 17 in 2006.

The NWS expects a high temperature of 53 and a low of 45 today, with a high of 68 on Saturday and a low around 50.

Storms should move out of the area Saturday night, and there’s a 20 percent chance for rain in the Austin area Sunday. Clouds should clear up by Sunday night and next week will start off with mostly sunny weather.