Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Another year of Minnesota weather is in the books; 2013 spawned ferocious late winter and 

Then, the jet stream flipped to a warm and dry summer pattern that quickly spawned a "

" that dried up fields, lawns and rivers. Finally, a December deep freeze descended on the now Frozen Tundra.

It's almost as if 2013 just couldn't make up it's mind as to what kind of weather whiplash to bring to Minnesota.

So what kind of weather lies ahead as we roll into 2014?

Will our Jekyll and Hyde weather pattern continue, flipping from one extreme to the next? Will a potentially developing El Nino shift weather patterns in the second half of winter and spring, bringing milder weather and giving us the spring we missed in 2013?

Will 2014 bring more than the 15 tornadoes observed in Minnesota in 2013, the lowest tornado tally in 23 years since 1990?

My weather "spidey senses" say yes on all three counts.

Oh, and did I mention the jet stream is showing signs of a major pattern change that could break the back of our extended cold wave and bring significantly milder temps, even a potential thaw to Minnesota in about 10 days?

Buckle up, 2014 may be another year of weather whiplash for Minnesota and the world.

Minnesota's weather showed two distinct character traits in 2013. Persistent cold and snow marked the first half of the year. Warm dry weather took hold in July and lasted into the fall.

Overall, it was a cool year for Minnesota. In fact, Minnesota and the Upper Midwest was one of the few cool regions on earth in 2013. Through November it is the 

Overall Minnesota's temperatures ran about 1 degree cooler than average in the south, and 2 degrees colder than average in the north in 2013.

There was plenty of weather to keep a guy busy in the Huttner Weather lab this year. One of my most vivid weather memories of 2013? Getting knocked off the air during live severe weather coverage for MPR News during the National Night Out downbursts and hailstorms that tore across Minnesota and up dozens of trees in Deephaven.

top weather stories of 2013 from the Minnesota Climatology Working Group

 as voted by the Twin Cities weather community.

 from the always excellent Capital Weather Gang.

The #1 weather event in 2013? The devastating Moore, Okla., tornado on May 20.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L-XExpb3pY#t=477

Pattern Change Ahead? Pacific flow may blow in January Thaw in about 10 days

Don't bet the farm on this just yet, but the longer range forecast models are hinting at a potential major shift in the jet stream pattern in about 10 days.

The persistent Polar Vortex that has been spinning over Hudson Bay and dealing Minnesota steady doses of arctic air may be about to retreat. That could open the door for a milder 'zonal' (west to east) Pacific flow. Upper winds blowing from Seattle instead of the Yukon could mean much milder temps after about Jan. 9-10.

That may lead to a break in the persistent arctic air masses over Minnesota. Long range data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 

  is suggesting at least a few days of temps in the upper 20s and even 30s. Note the sharp reduction in sub-zero nights in the extended forecast.

I'd like to see a few more days of model consistency before I sign off on the warming trend but it looks encouraging as of now. Stay tuned.

All the best to you for a happy healthy and prosperous New Year in 2014 from the MPR Weather Lab!

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Another year of Minnesota weather is in the books. 2013 spawned ferocious late winter and record spring snows.

Minnesota’s ‘Weather Whiplash’ 2013; Pattern change and January Thaw in sight?

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