Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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The pattern of morning fog and afternoon sunshine continue through midweek, then a late-week storm returns highs closer to October averages.

Just like Monday morning, Minnesota is still sitting under a broad ridge of higher pressure, bringing dry and mild weather across the state.

The clear skies and light winds overnight provided the conditions for another very foggy morning Tuesday along most of eastern Minnesota.

Because of the thick fog, almost all of eastern Minnesota is under a dense fog advisory until 10 a.m., with many spots seeing visibility reduced to a quarter mile or lower.

Although this does include the Twin Cities, fog reports around the metro have not been as dense as Monday.

Western Minnesota sees sunshine right away Tuesday morning, and the rest of the state turns sunny as the fog lifts. Because of the additional sunshine, western Minnesota will have the warmer highs again Tuesday.

Most of the state began Tuesday in the 40s and 50s. 

Highs will range from the lower 70s east, to a few 80s near the western edge of the state.

The state continues under the influence of high pressure Wednesday, which means more morning fog is likely, especially in northeastern Minnesota. It also stays warm, with most of the state in the 70s, and a few 80s west.

Thursday will also be similarly warm, but enough instability returns that southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, may see a few light showers.

On Friday, a more potent storm heads toward the state, bringing chances for showers and storms through early Sunday. 

It currently looks like the track of that storm will bring most of the rainfall to northern Minnesota, where some areas could see over an inch of rain. 

Southern Minnesota is currently forecast to see much spottier activity and rain totals less than one-quarter inch.

The storm will also end the recent warm trend. By Sunday, cooler air filters in behind the storm, dropping highs across the state into the 60s. 

Here is that forecast for the Twin Cities, showing the return of the cooler air:

Given that average highs by Sunday will range from the 50s to the low 60s across Minnesota (the Twin Cities average high for Oct. 10 is 61 degrees), the state will still be at least 5 to 10 degrees above average even when the cooler air arrives.

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

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Nicole Mitchell 

Author

The pattern of morning fog and afternoon sunshine continue through midweek, then a late-week storm returns highs closer to October averages.


Highs in the 70s and 80s continue most of the week

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