Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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It was another subzero morning across Minnesota Friday.

The mercury bottomed out at negative 12 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Friday morning. That’s the coldest temperature recorded this winter in the Twin Cities. Eau Claire, Wis., bottomed out at minus 16. That’s also the coldest so far this winter.

Friday’s reading of minus 12 was a degree colder than the negative 11 at the Twin Cities airport Thursday. The airport also bottomed out at minus 9 on Jan. 19. Last winter, the MSP Airport hit negative 28. That was the coldest reading in 26 years.

Here are some additional selected low temperatures across Minnesota form this morning.

This winter is running about 4 degrees warmer than average overall in most of Minnesota. Today was the 16th day with temperatures at or below zero in the Twin Cities this winter. The 30-year average is 23 days.

A stiff but chilling southerly wind today boosted temperatures into the teens above zero Friday afternoon.

Looking at the maps, Friday’s negative 12 at the Twin Cities airport was likely the coldest temperature of this winter in the Twin Cities. Temperatures rebound into the 30s above zero Saturday and Monday. 

Another cold wave arrives next Tuesday through Thursday. But lows in the Twin Cities area will likely hover a few degrees on either side of zero next week.

The weekend of Feb. 22-24 looks mild. The upper air pattern forecasts strongly favor a Pacific flow. That should shove milder Pacific air across Minnesota starting next Friday.

Highs in the 40s will spread across Nebraska and South Dakota by next Thursday. That inbound air mass arrives in Minnesota next weekend. Highs will be tempered a few degrees by deep snow cover over Minnesota but highs in the 40s seem likely at this point.

NOAA’s six-to-10-day temperature outlook strongly favors warmer than average temps through next weekend.

I won't be shocked to see temperatures into the 40s (above zero) across much of Minnesota by next weekend. Wind chills reached negative 48 in northern Minnesota this week. It may feel up to 90 degrees warmer next weekend in parts of Minnesota.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

The Twin Cities reached negative 12 Friday morning. That was likely the coldest temperature we will reach this winter.

Upper air forecast map for 6 pm February 21

Was Friday the coldest morning of winter? It may feel 90 degrees warmer next weekend

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