Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Tuesday stays cold with highs in the 30s and breezy conditions making it feel even colder.  Then a slow warmup begins, returning the state to near-average temperatures by the weekend.

Under mostly clear skies overnight, temperatures plummeted into the teens and a few single digits Tuesday morning. For some portions of southern Minnesota, including Rochester, it was the coldest morning so far this season. 

Thanks to widespread sunshine, highs make it into the 30s for the entire state.  

This is still 15 to 20 degrees below average for late October, but slightly milder than Monday. It will feel colder than the 30s though, because breezy winds with gusts 20 to 30 mph will put the wind chill in the 20s.

Although most of the state sees sun, northern Minnesota will have more clouds move in during the afternoon hours, thanks to a disturbance tracking just to our north. 

As that clips by, northern Minnesota sees light snow chances from Tuesday afternoon into early Wednesday. Significant snowfall is not expected, with snow totals expected to remain under an inch in most locations. 

Temperatures rise even more by Wednesday, with most of the state seeing highs in the 40s. A weak cold front drops temperatures back into the 30s and 40s Thursday, but highs then warm again the rest of the week, with a few 50s possible by Saturday. Here is that forecast for the Twin Cities:  

Next week also remains closer to average, and possibly above average at times. 

This means highs mostly in the 40s and 50s, with even a couple 60s possible. 

Meanwhile, after the light snow clears out of northern Minnesota by Wednesday morning, dry and mostly sunny skies prevail. 

Here is the total liquid precipitation forecast through Sunday, showing only light precipitation in northern Minnesota, most of which comes from the system Tuesday into Wednesday:

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

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Nicole Mitchell 

Author

Tuesday stays cold with highs in the 30s and breezy conditions making it feel even colder.  Then a slow warmup begins, returning the state to near-average temperatures by the weekend.


Minnesota breaks out of the recent cold spell

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