Slightly cooler Tuesday, followed by an impressive warmup

Cooler air returned temperatures across Minnesota back to average Tuesday, but a big warmup is in store by the weekend. Accumulating snow chances remain limited all week.

Tuesday’s forecast

Cooler air has moved into Minnesota, making us 5 to 15 degrees cooler Tuesday. This is a return to closer to average January temperatures, and highs Tuesday will be in the teens and 20s.

High pressure is dominating our weather and combined with low-level moisture and light winds, we have been seeing very low stratus clouds, especially in the mornings. The previous couple mornings the low clouds have produced fog and drizzle, but for Tuesday — thanks to cooler temperatures — it is producing light flurries. There is also some fog, especially in southern Minnesota.

The low clouds will lift through midday, which should end most of the flurries and fog, but all of Tuesday will remain cloudy.

A weak disturbance moves into western Minnesota Tuesday night that could bring light snow near the upper Minnesota River Valley overnight into Wednesday morning.

Less than a half inch of snow accumulation is expected.

Precipitation chances

Any precipitation in the week ahead looks like it will be very light. In addition to the light snow western Minnesota sees overnight Tuesday, there could be a few flurries across the state again Wednesday morning.

A more widespread snow chance moves through Minnesota Thursday evening through early Saturday.

Accumulation with that weather system would be very limited, with most of the state seeing well under an inch of snow.

There could also be some light rain or freezing rain mix due to rising temperatures. Into the weekend, northern Minnesota keeps light snow chances, while southern Minnesota could finally see more sunshine after an otherwise very cloudy week.

Temperatures

After the return to average temperatures Tuesday, the weather warms slightly Wednesday and Thursday. By Friday, it is likely the entire state will see highs back in the 30s. The weekend will be very warm for early February, with southern parts of Minnesota possibly in the 40s by Sunday. Here is the expected temperature trend for the Twin Cities:

Thanks to the cloudy skies expected this week, low temperatures will be even higher compared to their averages, often 10 to 20 degrees above average.

The mild weather won’t last though. It looks like cooler air will return us to average February temperatures by the middle of next week.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:48 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.