Coldest Valentine's Day in nearly a century for parts of Minnesota

Dangerous cold continues through the weekend, then milder next week

Temperatures stay dangerously cold over the weekend, with widespread wind chills of 30 to 50 below zero. We finally break the cold grip next week, when temperatures slowly warm beginning Monday.

Friday’s weather

Minnesota had another arctic start Friday morning, with temperatures ranging from over 30 below zero north to negative teens south. This put the state 20 to 30 degrees below average for morning lows this time of year.

Winds varying from light to about 10 mph have morning winds chills at 20 to 40 below, keeping the whole state under either wind chill warnings or advisories most of Friday morning. 

Much of Minnesota will stay under various periods of wind chill warnings and advisories through most of the weekend due to the dangerously cold pattern we are under.

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Highs Friday stay below zero for almost the entire state. 

weather graphic
High temperatures Friday
National Weather Service

Following the light dusting of snow in southern Minnesota Thursday and into the overnight, some roads have icy spots Friday morning, so travel with care. 

A little light snow could also impact northern Minnesota Friday, and the southern edge of the state late Friday.

A frigid and icy weekend

The snow that starts overnight Friday for southern Minnesota lingers through Saturday morning, and could include a dusting for the Twin Cities. 

weather graphic
Forecast weather Saturday morning
National Weather Service

While the snow stays very light, it will cause more slick spots on the roads Saturday.

The major concern over the weekend is the continuing, dangerous cold.

Temperatures all weekend will be subzero, with overnight lows Saturday, Sunday, and Monday morning from 10 below to 30 below zero, and a few northerly spots even colder.

Here is that temperature trend for the Twin Cities:

weather graphic
Twin Cities temperature and wind chill forecast through Monday
National Weather Service

On Sunday, which is Valentine’s Day, some places will see their coldest weather for Feb. 14 in nearly a century and may even set record cold highs. The current Twin Cities record coldest high for Feb. 14 is minus 5 degrees.

Adding in the wind, overnight Saturday and Sunday morning will likely have wind chills of 30 to 50 below. However, the whole weekend will have bitter cold with dangerous wind chills.

weather graphic
Forecast wind chills through Wednesday
National Weather Service

By Monday afternoon, most of the state finally makes it above zero again, then temperatures continue to slowly warm back toward average through the week.

Programming note

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