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

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The newest computer model info is in, and it continues to show very warm (for March) temperatures across most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Our average Twin Cities high temp for March 7 and March 8 is only 37 degrees. We’ll see Twin Cities highs in the 50s on Saturday, followed by 60s on Sunday. 

Roughly the southern third of Minnesota will have Saturday highs in the 50s, with mostly 40s elsewhere:

Winds will be a bit gusty by Saturday afternoon:

Forecasts are in knots, 20 knots equals 23 mph.

Sunday highs range from 60s in about the southern third of Minnesota to 30s in the far northwest:

Some sprinkles are possible over parts of far northern Minnesota on Sunday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern for Sunday:

A wintry mix is possible at times in northwestern Minnesota, and that mix could spread eastward by Sunday evening. Any precipitation in northeastern Minnesota appears to hold off until Sunday afternoon.

You can hear updated weather information on the MPR 

, and you’ll see updated weather info on the MPR News 

If you have snow-related outdoor plans this weekend, you’ll be happy to know that there’s still plenty of snow on the ground across the northern half of Minnesota. Here’s the latest 

, courtesy of the Minnesota State Climatology Office and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources:

Snow cover is lower across the southern half of Minnesota. 

Much of north-central and northeastern Minnesota report 18 inches or more of snow cover, with more than 30 inches of snow on the ground in portions of Lake and Cook counties. Parts of southern Minnesota have 4 inches or more of snow cover, but zero to two inches of snow cover are shown in parts of the far south.

The NWS lists the Twin Cities snow depth as just a trace of snow Friday morning. I’ve noticed that many south-facing lawns in the metro area have little or no snow cover, while a few inches of snow cover remains on some north-facing slopes. In central Minnesota, St. Cloud reports a snow depth of 4 inches.

Satellite images show the minimal or spotty snow cover in the Twin Cities metro area and much of  southwestern Minnesota:

Our Minnesota snow cover will continue to shrink this weekend, due to the warming trend.

If you’re looking for weekend activity options, 

 has a list of many events and festivals around the state. One event this Saturday is 

, which takes place halfway up the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais:

It’ll be breezy in and near Grand Marais on Saturday, with sun and patchy clouds. Morning temps will be mainly in the 20s, then temps warm through the 30s Saturday afternoon.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Ron Trenda

Author

The weekend warmup is still on track. We have details on that, plus the updated Minnesota snow depth map.

Puddles of melting snow reflect the still-leafless trees. 

Weekend forecast: warming trend; Sunday highs in the 60s southern Minnesota

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