Some record low temps to the north; a beautiful Thursday and Friday
When skies are clear, and winds are very light or the air is calm, heat can radiate out to space quickly.
That's what happened early Thursday morning, and temps dropped into the 20s and lower 30s in parts of northern Minnesota:
Some new record lows were set Thursday:
Temps were also very cold to the northwest:
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Friday morning lows up north should be milder, mainly in the 40s.
According to the Minnesota State Climatology Office, the average date of the first official 32 degree reading of autumn is Oct. 8 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. It's much earlier as you go northward. In Cambridge, Minn., the average first 32 degree low temp of fall is on Sept. 25.
If the air is calm, you can see frost at ground level when the official temp measured 5 to 6 feet above the ground is in the mid to upper 30s.
Minnesota data are available for various temperature thresholds.
Temperature trends
Thursday afternoon highs should reach the lower 70s across much of Minnesota, with upper 60s north-central and northeast.
Highs in the lower 70s should be common on Friday, with some mid 70s in parts of the south:
Most of Minnesota will top out in the 70s Saturday, with 60s northeast:
A similar high temp pattern is expected on Sunday:
If you're looking for warmer temps, Twin Cities highs could creep into the lower 80s next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Rain chances
There could be some scattered showers up along the Minnesota-Canada border this Thursday evening, but the rest of us should stay dry Thursday through Saturday.
Northwestern and west-central Minnesota could see some showers late Saturday night and Sunday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model shows the potential rain pattern Saturday night through Sunday evening:
The color chart to the right of the loop refers to the precipitation rate (mm per hour), not to the total amount of rain.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.