Blue norther: Brisk Thursday ahead; frosty again by Friday morning

Strong cold front blows into Minnesota Thursday

Forecast low temperatures Friday morning
Forecast low temperatures Friday morning.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Minnesota is feeling an unusually warm first five days of October. Check out these quick temperature tidbits:

  • The average high in the Twin Cities on Oct. 5 is 64 degrees.

  • It’s been 70 degrees or warmer in the Twin Cities and much of Minnesota the first five days of October.

  • Temperatures in the Twin Cities so far this month are running 9.8 degrees warmer than average.

  • The coldest temperature so far this fall at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is 37 degrees on Sept. 28.

  • The average date of the first 32-degree temperature at MSP airport is Oct. 11.

Our balmy affair with Sep-tober 2022 is about to come to a screeching halt. A potent cold front blows into Minnesota overnight into Thursday. By the morning, gusty northerly winds will blow briskly across our state.

Texans call these cold fronts blue northers. The colors and wind direction on Thursday’s weather map fit the billing.

Wind forecast Thursday
Wind forecast Thursday
NOAA

It’s will be at least 20 degrees colder across most of Minnesota on Thursday. Temperatures will hold steady in the 50s in southern Minnesota with 40s up north.

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Forecast high temperatures Thursday
Forecast high temperatures Thursday
NOAA

Frosty Friday

Friday morning looks likely to bring the coldest temperatures so far this season to much of Minnesota. Temperatures will dip into the 20s across most of central and northern Minnesota.

Low to mid-30s will be common across southern Minnesota and the greater Twin Cities area as the sun peeks up Friday morning.

Forecast low temperatures Friday morning
Forecast low temperatures Friday morning
NOAA

Highs Friday afternoon will struggle to reach 50 degrees in the Twin Cities.

Forecast high temperatures Friday
Forecast high temperatures Friday
NOAA

Milder again next week

The weekend looks sunny but crisp. Highs will be in the 50s Saturday and lower 60s Sunday.

Milder breezes will blow into Minnesota once again next week. Highs are likely to reach to upper 60s and 70s in southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities by next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Forecast high temperatures Tuesday
Forecast high temperatures Tuesday
NOAA

We need rain. We're running more than 8 inches below average in the Twin Cities this year. Most of that deficit has occurred since June 1.

We need a series of widespread fall storms that can dump rainfall by the inch to recharge soils, rivers, and lakes. Right now I don't see any of those brewing just yet, but I’m watching.