Polar vortex blows in: Winter's coldest sustained air mass ahead
100 to 200 hours below zero for some locations?
I hope you’ve stocked up on all the essentials for a brutally cold Minnesota weekend.
The coldest air mass of winter is moving southeast into Minnesota. Temperatures in the Yukon and Northwest Territories of Canada will plunge into the minus 40s by Friday morning.
The bitter air mass will modify slightly as it pours south into Minnesota. But it will still feature bitterly cold temperatures peaking Sunday and Monday mornings.
The data I trust suggests the map below may be conservative on subzero temps Sunday morning.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
I’d say minus 15 to minus 20 is a good bet for the Twin Cities Sunday and Monday mornings. Temperatures in northern Minnesota should hit minus 30 to minus 40 in the coldest nooks and crannies like International Falls, Embarrass, Cotton and Tower.
Highs will not climb above zero in most of Minnesota Sunday and Monday.
Long-duration cold spell
The overall upper-air pattern strongly suggests arctic flow through next week, and likely into Valentine’s Day weekend.
This persistent pattern should produce subzero nights through most, or all of next week.
You had to know we wouldn’t sneak through this Minnesota winter without a significant subzero stretch. Stay warm and safe Minnesota.