Thaw arrives: Snow vanishing in parts of Minnesota

Highs in the 40s and 50s ahead.

GOES-16 satellite loop Tuesday
GOES-16 satellite loop Tuesday. Note the swath of snow disappearing in southwest Minnesota in the lower-left portion of the loop.
NOAA via COD Weather Lab

Minnesota weather can be like the stock market. Some days are up. Some days are down. Temperature charts this week look like a sustained bull market.

Temperatures Tuesday at MSP Airport
Temperatures Tuesday at MSP Airport
NOAA/FAA

Temperatures soared from the low 20s early this morning into the 40s and even 50s across the Upper Midwest Tuesday afternoon. Minnesota is at the tip of a mild Pacific air mass with temperatures into the 60s this afternoon not too far southwest.

Temperatures Tuesday afternoon
Temperatures Tuesday afternoon
Oklahoma Mesonet

The rest of this week features highs in the 40s for much of Minnesota, with a few 50s in the now snow-free areas of western Minnesota.

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First 50s this weekend

The Twin Cities will likely enjoy the first 50s of this year by this weekend. Highs may even get close to 50 degrees in northern Minnesota by Sunday. And it looks like the 50s may hang around for a few days next week. Your local Dairy Queen may be busy.

Forecast high temperatures Sunday
Forecast high temperatures Sunday
NOAA

Snow going fast

Our powerful March sun angle and mild breezes are doing a number on areas with thinner snow cover this week. You can even see the snow melting from space in this short 90-minute GOES-16 visible satellite loop Tuesday afternoon.

GOES-16 satellite loop Tuesday
GOES-16 satellite loop Tuesday
NOAA via COD Weather Lab

The Twin Cities NWS reports 5 inches of snow cover as of early Tuesday morning. That will likely be down to near zero this weekend.