A bright and breezy Saturday, cooler on Sunday; snowy winter ahead?
Tuesday snow track off to the southeast
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Our average Twin Cities high temperature is 53 degrees this time of year. We’ll top that this Saturday afternoon, reaching the upper 50s. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a stray 60 somewhere in the metro area.
Temperature trends
Most of Minnesota, plus western Wisconsin, will top out in the 50s Saturday afternoon, with mainly 60s in southwestern Minnesota,
Sunday highs will be in the 40s in many locations, with 30s across roughly the northwestern half of Minnesota:
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Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to reach around 40 degrees on Monday and Tuesday, followed by highs in the mid 30s Wednesday. We’ll top out around 40 on Thursday (Halloween), with temps dropping into the 30s Thursday evening for the trick-or-treaters.
Rain and snow chances
Northwestern Minnesota has a chance of rain showers this Saturday. The best chance of scattered rain/snow showers overnight Saturday night will be in the northwestern half of Minnesota. A passing light rain/snow shower is possible anywhere in Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Sunday.
Listen for updated weather information on the MPR network, and you’ll also see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.
It looks like southeastern Minnesota will be on the northern edge of a swath of snow running from Iowa into Wisconsin Monday night into early Tuesday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Global Forecast System (GFS) model shows the potential precipitation pattern from Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning:
Check forecast updates.
Fall colors
According to the latest fall color report from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, fall colors are past peak in most of Minnesota, but beautiful fall colors can be found in portions of the Twin Cities metro area and southeastern Minnesota:
Keep in mind that the fall color report includes all deciduous trees, not just maples. A Wisconsin fall color report is also available.
Winter outlook
You’ve probably heard some buzz about a snowier than normal winter. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center winter (December through February) outlook shows a tendency for higher than normal precipitation in Minnesota and Wisconsin:
Even if we do end up with higher than normal precipitation this winter, it may not translate into a snowier than normal winter in all areas. Sometimes a portion of our winter precipitation falls as rain. Many of us recall Christmas Day of 2016, when MSP airport recorded 97/100ths of an inch of rain.
By the way, NOAA indicates equal chances of warmer than normal, cooler than normal or near-normal temperatures for Minnesota and Wisconsin this winter:
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.
