Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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My wife and I bought a few hanging plants yesterday. We’ll be bringing those plants indoors the next few nights.

Lows temperatures will dip into the 20s and 30s across Minnesota and western Wisconsin late Thursday night/Friday morning:

Here’s a closer look at low temps Friday morning:

Official temperatures are measured 5 feet above the ground. When winds are light, the temperature at ground level can be several degrees cooler than the temp measured at 5 feet above the ground.

Freeze warnings run from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday across southern Minnesota and parts of central Minnesota and western Wisconsin:

The Twin Cities metro area is included in the freeze warning.

Freezing temps are also expected in northern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, but the growing season isn’t considered to have started in those areas.

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 346 AM CDT Thu May 7 2020 MNZ057>063-065>070-074>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ023>028-071700- /O.NEW.KMPX.FZ.W.0001.200508T0800Z-200508T1400Z/ /O.NEW.KMPX.FZ.A.0001.200509T0600Z-200509T1300Z/ Kandiyohi-Meeker-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Renville- McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice- Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault- Freeborn-St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Chippewa-Eau Claire- Including the cities of Willmar, Litchfield, Monticello, Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater, Olivia, Hutchinson, Gaylord, Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria, Shakopee, Hastings, New Ulm, St Peter, Le Sueur, Faribault, Red Wing, St James, Mankato, Waseca, Owatonna, Fairmont, Blue Earth, Albert Lea, Hudson, River Falls, Menomonie, Durand, Chippewa Falls, and Eau Claire 346 AM CDT Thu May 7 2020 ...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM CDT FRIDAY... ...FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING... * WHAT...For the Freeze Warning, sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28 expected. For the Freeze Watch, sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28 possible. The core of the Twin Cities metro will likely remain in the mid 30s both nights. * WHERE...Portions of west central Wisconsin and central, east central, south central and southeast Minnesota. * WHEN...For the Freeze Warning, from 3 AM to 9 AM CDT Friday. For the Freeze Watch, from late Friday night through Saturday morning. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above- ground pipes to protect them from freezing.

Notice that there’s a freeze watch for Friday night into early Saturday in the same areas that have freeze warnings Thursday night into early Friday.

Our average Twin Cities high temperature is 68 degrees on May 9 and May 10. We’ll be well below average this weekend.

Lows Friday night into Saturday morning will be in the 20s to the north and in the 30s south:

Saturday highs will be mainly in the 50s:

Sunday highs will be in the 50s south, with 40s north:

A low-pressure system is expected to move across Minnesota and into Wisconsin Saturday and Saturday night. It’ll bring rain to some areas and a mix of rain and snow to other areas.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale (NAM) forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern Saturday morning through Sunday morning:

The Twin Cities metro area may see occasional rain showers Saturday afternoon into Saturday night and a few stray flakes will also be possible late Saturday night.

Parts of central and northern Minnesota could see some snow showers mixed with rain showers on Saturday.

You can hear updated weather information on the MPR 

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

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Ron Trenda

Author

Freezing temperatures are expected across much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin late Thursday night and early Friday morning. We have details on freeze warnings, plus a look at your chilly weekend weather and who may see some snowflakes.

Weekend forecast: Chilly, with rain and snow chances in some areas Saturday

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