Another wintry storm Friday

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The thaw is here, and this one looks like it will stick around a while. But it comes with a 

Minnesota is riding the northern edge of an above-freezing Pacific air mass as we move into late January. 

There are some remarkable elements of this January thaw. First, this looks like a long-duration event. Highs will be at or above freezing into next week in the Twin Cities and most of southern Minnesota.

And take a look at the overnight lows on the chart below. We’ll barely dip below freezing over the next week at night. So overnight minimum temperatures will be about 20 degrees warmer than the average low of 8 degrees by next week.

The medium-range upper-air maps continue to support milder than average temperatures for the rest of January. That means we’ll finish the month well above average.

There are signs more subzero temperatures may push south as we move in the first week of February. The upper-air forecast suggests a deep trough of low-pressure diving south from Canada.

That could bring another shot of subzero air during the first week of next month.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

An extended January thaw has arrived. Light rain and snow showers favor southeastern Minnesota through Thursday.

Early afternoon weather conditions at Twin Cities International Airport

NOAA

Paul Huttner | MPR News.

Twin Cities National Weather Service

Oklahoma Mesonet

NOAA via Weather Bell

Upper air forecast map for 6 pm February 5 

Thaw arrives; spotty rain and snow showers

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