Minnesota sees more snow chances through the end of the week

After another cold day Tuesday, temperatures trend milder into next week. A couple more rounds of snow are in the forecast through Saturday.

Tuesday’s forecast

Behind the weekend storm and the cold air that funneled across Minnesota Monday, Tuesday morning started off frigid.

Morning temperatures ranged from the negative teens in the Arrowhead to a few teens on the plus side in southwestern Minnesota.

Temperatures were slightly milder south thanks to more clouds overnight and a southerly flow along with low pressure sliding south of Minnesota. That system is also bringing light snow into southern Minnesota through the morning, which quickly exits into the afternoon.

Snow should stay from about Fergus Falls to Mora and south, including the Twin Cities, with any accumulation a little farther south of that line. Amounts are forecast to be mostly under 1 inch of snow, with a few spotty areas in south-central Minnesota seeing up to 2 inches.

Because of that system, most of the state remains cloudy Tuesday, with a bit more sunshine north.

Highs stay chilly, predominantly in the teens and 20s, which is 10 to 15 degrees below average.

More snow

The rest of the week also stays more active, with another round of light snow forecast to target Minnesota Thursday. Currently, the snow looks most likely to affect eastern Minnesota in the morning hours on Thursday, with snow totals chiefly under two inches.

Another, much more complex storm is expected to hit the state Friday. While there is still some uncertainty in the potential snowfall amounts, it does look like the track will bring snow to southern and central Minnesota.

At least a couple inches of snow is probable, but there could be even heavier snow depending on how much moisture the storm has available by the time it reaches Minnesota and the temperatures.

For example, the Twin Cities is presently forecast to have a high temperature right near freezing Friday. Even a couple of degrees warmer or cooler could mean the difference between a wetter snow and less accumulation or a lighter snow and more accumulation.

We will continue to update the expectations with this storm as it approaches, but at a minimum, be prepared for some travel impacts and have the shovels handy.

Meanwhile, temperatures nudge warmer through Thursday, then dip back to seasonable levels Friday and Saturday with Friday’s snowstorm.

The pattern next week looks both drier and milder, with more 30s and possibly the return of the 40s a couple days.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.