Blizzard warnings in Northwest Minnesota, winter weather advisories across the state

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That wise old saying is heard in weather forecast offices everywhere. 

 is often a valid concept in weather forecasting. And from the looks of Friday’s latest set of medium-range outlooks from NOAA, March 2020 could go down as very mild — and possibly rainy in Minnesota.

 in Minnesota. The Twin Cities average temperature that month was 48.3 degrees. March 2016 was the fifth warmest. The average temperature that month was 41.3 degrees. If current forecast maps for the next one to three weeks verify, we have a reasonable shot at seeing a top five warmest March on record at many Minnesota locations.

Keep in mind outlooks in the one to three-week range are just that. Changes can happen fast. What looks like a possible rainstorm today on March 11 could easily shift to a snow event on the forecast models in a few days. As the weather warning label says, your results may vary.

The weather pattern across the Upper Midwest favors very mild and dry conditions through next week. Temperatures will likely run 5 to 10 degrees warmer than average over the next week.

The medium-range models project an even warmer pulse of Pacific air across the Upper Midwest in about seven to 14 days. A possible storm heading this way could be warm enough for mostly rain around March 11.

March is typically more winter than spring at this latitude. This year may be the exception.

The Minnesota weather professional skeptic in me is still leery of a quick snowy pattern change in mid to late March.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Latest outlooks suggest a very mild March for Minnesota.

Huttner, Paul

NOAA 6 to 10-day temperature and precipitation outlook 

NOAA

NOAA 8 to 14-day temperature and precipitation outlook

Outlook: Warmest March in 8 years ahead?

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