Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Minnesota expects extreme cold in winter. But the severity, duaration and geographic coverage of this cold wave is astounding. Subzero temperatures plunged all the way to Texas Tuesday morning.

Much of northern Minnesota has been below zero for the past 11 days. Several records fell last weekend up north.

Today is the 11th straight morning with subzero low temperatures in the Twin Cities. When the final numbers come in it looks like the Twin Cities will log over 100 straight hours at or below zero. We’d need 130 hours to make it into the top 10 subzero streaks. 

Temperatures in much of Minnesota finally stagger above zero this afternoon. 

Highs reach the teens above zero most of this week. By Sunday, a wave of Pacific air will drive highs into the 30s across the Upper Midwest. That may feel like a heatwave.

A minor weather system brings light snow to central and southern Minnesota Wednesday. 

Expect about an inch of snow across much of central Minnesota including the Twin Cities area. Afternoon rush hours Wednesday could be slick with temperatures in the teens. 

We’re through the worst of winter’s cold this week, but winter is not done yet. Typically we see one more subzero morning in the Twin Cities the first week of March.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Extreme cold has a grip on the U.S. with subzero temperatures all the way to Texas Tuesday morning.

Oklahoma Mesonet

Record temperatures in northern Minnesota

Bitter cold eases this week; 30s by Sunday

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