A pattern shift brings more sunshine back to Minnesota next week

Weather across Minnesota stays foggy and dreary through at least Saturday. Then a bit more sunshine and milder temperatures return next week.

Friday’s forecast

With very light and even calm winds across Minnesota overnight and early Friday morning, thick fog developed across much of the state. The entire state, except parts of southern and southeastern Minnesota and a sliver of Cook County, is in a dense fog advisory until 11 a.m. 
It is freezing fog in many places, and in northwestern Minnesota a little freezing drizzle may even mix in, so watch for slick spots on the roads. 

Even after the fog lifts, cloudy skies prevail the rest of the day, with enough moisture for isolated flurries to be possible, but nothing accumulating.

The cloud cover kept temperatures mild again overnight, with teens and 20s for most of the state Friday morning, although there were a few single digits in the Arrowhead. Daytime highs will be in the 20s for most of the state, ranging from near-average south to about 10 degrees above average north. 

Extended forecast

The stagnant weather Minnesota has been stuck in brings a forecast Saturday almost identical to Friday, with morning fog, cloudy skies, and highs in the 20s.

By Sunday, we get enough of a pattern change and slightly more wind to finally help break us out of our dreary trend and bring back a bit more sunshine.

This also helps temperatures trend slightly warmer, with 30s likely for the Twin Cities again by the early part of the week.  Here is that forecast through Monday: 

Even northern Minnesota is likely to make it into the 30s by the middle of next week, which would be almost 20 degrees above average. 

Snow chances stay sparse, with a few light snow possibilities returning into the forecast the second half of next week, especially for northern Minnesota.

Programming note

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