Winter storm warnings in northern Minnesota

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It’s amazing how good 38 degrees feels after another subzero run. That’s where the thermometer at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport topped out Tuesday afternoon. It’s the warmest day since we topped out at 43 degrees on Christmas Eve. 

Our January thaw continues across southern Minnesota Wednesday. 

How frequent are January thaws across Minnesota? 

Using the loose definition of two straight days at or above the thawing point, January thaws are nearly an annual event for the Twin Cities (92 percent) and southern Minnesota. But it’s a 50/50 occurrence in places like International Falls along the Canadian border. 

 around Minnesota from Mark Seeley via the Minnesota DNR Climate Working Group. 

We could get a few light snow showers into Wednesday, but the better chance for an icy mix arrives Wednesday night into Thursday morning. NOAA’s NAM 3 km resolution model paints the precipitation zone across northern and central Minnesota into the Twin Cities overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning. 

Be aware Thursday morning’s rush hour could be slick in spots And refreeze is always a possibility overnight during our thaws.

I posted more extensively on Friday’s snow system earlier today. The latest model runs Tuesday afternoon still suggests a westward shift in the storm track. That would place the heaviest snow in western and southwest Minnesota. Here’s NOAA’s Tuesday afternoon 18Z GFS model run.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

We’re thawing out this week. But a wintry mix arrives Thursday morning. And Friday still brings snow chances. 

Warm sunset on January 11 at the Weather Lab

How frequent are January thaws? Light wintry mix possible Thursday morning

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