Subzero temps early Friday; extreme Yukon cold may be coming

It’s that time of year.

Bitterly cold subzero arctic air masses are pooling in northwest Canada. Temperatures have exceeded minus 50 degrees in parts of the Yukon Territory this week. As of midday Thursday it’s minus 40 in Dawson, Yukon Territory. The forecast by Friday night is 54 below zero.

That pool of brutally subzero air will likely be driven into Minnesota and the Upper Midwest this month. We’re already tapping pieces of that air mass as they ride southeast.

Friday morning brings the coldest temperatures of winter so far to most of Minnesota. Subzero air covers all of Minnesota early Friday. The Twin Cities will bottom out around minus 18, with minus 20 in the suburbs. Northwestern Minnesota will hit 30 below or colder.

Temperatures moderate Saturday with highs into the 30s in the south.

But another swipe of arctic air rides in quickly by Sunday. Temperatures will hover on either side of zero in Minnesota Sunday with subzero wind chills.

By Monday morning subzero air covers Minnesota once again.

Milder next week

Our air mass will moderate for a few days next week. Highs will reach the 30s once again by next Wednesday and Thursday.

Extreme cold outbreak in about 2 weeks?

The medium-range forecast maps suggest the core of bitterly cold arctic air in northwest Canada may move southeast toward the Upper Midwest in about two weeks.

It’s still early, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model suggests temperatures in the range of minus 20 to minus 30 sweeping into North Dakota, pushing toward Minnesota between about Jan. 20-23.

There are some early indications the coldest air of January, and possibly the winter season may arrive in Minnesota in about two to three weeks.

Stay tuned.