Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Our mild-mannered Minnesota December appears ready to take a turn for the wilder Christmas week.

The first half of December has been unseasonably mild for Minnesota. 

The Twin Cities is running almost 8 degrees (7.9) warmer than average through Dec. 15. International Falls is running closer to 10 degrees warmer than average. And parts of the Red River Valley are running 10 to 12 degrees warmer than average so far this month. 

Check out the sea of warm colors on the December temperature departure map from the Midwest Regional Climate Center. 

Overall temperatures will run milder than average into Monday. Friday, Sunday and Monday look like the mildest days. Highs may crack 40 degrees once again across southern Minnesota Friday, Sunday and Monday. 

The best chance for a white Christmas across most of Minnesota arrives next Tuesday and Wednesday. The forecast models are always sketchy nearly a week out, but most solutions suggest at least a chance of accumulating snow for parts of Minnesota next Tuesday and or Wednesday.

The European and American models favor some snow for southern Minnesota.

Most forecast models agree with a shot of much colder air will plunge south by Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The upper air forecast maps plunge a deeper low-pressure trough across the central U.S. by Christmas Eve.

Today’s model runs continue to suggest sub-zero lows in northern Minnesota by Christmas morning, with temperatures closer to zero across southern Minnesota.

It looks like Christmas week is likely to transition to a much colder pattern by Christmas Day.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Pattern change ahead: From mild to wild on Christmas week? Much colder air and possible snow heading for Minnesota Christmas week.

Midwest Regional Climate Center

NOAA

European model (ECMWF) forecast for 6 am Wednesday, December 23

ECMWF via pivotal weather

Upper air forecast map for 6 pm December 24

NOAA GFS temperature outlook for 6 am Friday, December 25

Pattern change ahead: From mild to wild Christmas week?

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox