Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Snow up north Wednesday; a shot at 70 degrees next week?

A prolonged warming trend appears likely next week

GFS model temperature output for noon Thursday, November 5
GFS model temperature output for noon Thursday, November 5
NOAA via tropical tidbits

It’s a tale of two forecasts across Minnesota.

Snow is falling as of post time in northeast Minnesota. But the sun is breaking out in the Twin Cities and temperatures are surging into the 40s across southern Minnesota.

Temperatures Wednesday afternoon
Temperatures Wednesday afternoon
Oklahoma Mesonet

Once again, we are reminded that Minnesota is a tall state, and weather conditions vary greatly in short distances across our region.

Snow up north

Light snow has been steady enough to produce a few inches across northern Minnesota on Wednesday. Here’s the scene in Ely, where 2 to 3 inches has turned the streets and sidewalks white.

Light snow and snow showers will move out of northern Minnesota in the afternoon. Here’s NOAA’s HRRR model through 7 p.m.

NOAA HRRR model through 7 pm Wednesday
NOAA HRRR model through 7 p.m. Wednesday
NOAA via tropical tidbits

Warming trend begins in the south

They say all weather is local. That’s true across Minnesota. Sunshine and milder temperatures are busting out across southern Minnesota. Temperatures are responding well into the 40s across southern Minnesota Wednesday afternoon.

Temperatures Wednesday afternoon
Temperatures Wednesday afternoon
Oklahoma Mesonet

A few spots in nearly snowless areas of western Minnesota around Appleton could reach 50 degrees this afternoon.

Mild Halloween

Halloween 2020 still looks mild for most of Minnesota. Highs will reach the low 50s in the south, with mainly 40s in the north.

Forecast high temperatures Saturday
Forecast high temperatures Saturday
NOAA

Trick-or-treating time may turn colder. A cold front blowing into Minnesota late on Halloween will bring cooler breezes Halloween night.

A shot at 70 next week?

The medium-range forecast maps for next week still look mild. It looks exceedingly likely that we’ll see a string of days in the 50s and 60s across much of Minnesota. A few models suggest some locations in southern Minnesota could approach 70 degrees one more time by next Thursday.

GFS model temperature output for noon Thursday, November 5
GFS model temperature output for noon Thursday, Nov. 5.
NOAA via tropical tidbits

Stay tuned.