Tuesday brings rain and snow

Coming off the warmest day in months, Minnesota continues a milder trend through the end of February. Meanwhile, Tuesday brings another round of snow.

Monday’s warmth

After the arctic weather that gripped the state most of February, Monday’s highs in the 40s for much of the state was a warm turnaround.

Not only was it the warmest day so far in February, but it was the warmest day most of Minnesota has seen in two to three months. 

For the Twin Cities, Monday’s high of 41 was the highest temperature since Dec. 23.

It was even warmer in some parts of northern Minnesota, including 46 in International Falls.

That was the first above-40 reading there since early December, and you have to go back to early November to find the last time International Falls topped 46 degrees.

Tuesday’s forecast

Coming off of the warm weather Monday, Tuesday morning was also very mild, with 20s and 30s across the entire state. This put most of Minnesota 15 to 30 degrees above our average lows for late February.

Because of a storm moving across the state, temperatures do not rise much over the course of the day, but still enough to put most of the state in the 30s, with a few highs in the 40s for southwestern Minnesota.

The area of low pressure that crosses Minnesota Tuesday looks likely to track across southern Minnesota, putting the brunt of its moisture on the north side of the storm.

The timing brings in precipitation by late morning, then clearing out overnight.

The storm is not particularly strong, but it will bring much of northern Minnesota at least an inch or two of snow. 

Due to the track, a slightly heavier corridor of 3 or 4 inches of snow is expected from about Moorhead to Duluth.

A few spots on the western edge of that band that could top 6 inches, prompting a winter weather advisory for that portion of the state until midnight.

For southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, precipitation will be far less, with most snow totals under an inch. It will also be mild enough that much of the precipitation will be sprinkles or light rain during the day Tuesday, with the better snow chance Tuesday evening as temperatures dip.

Although most of the snow will be cleared out by the Wednesday morning, that precipitation, plus any melt from Tuesday that refreezes, could cause slick roads for the Wednesday morning commute.

Extended forecast

Behind Tuesday’s system, it will be a little breezy Wednesday, and there could be some light lingering snow through the morning near the Arrowhead. Temperatures dip just a couple degrees Wednesday with highs ranging from the mid-20s north to the mid-30s south, which is still slightly above average.

Highs mostly in the 30s with a few 20s north stay the trend through the weekend, although there could be another slight dip Saturday north and Sunday south as a weak system passes through.  That system also brings another light chance for snow.

Here is the Twin Cities forecast through Friday:

Programming note

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