Milder Thursday afternoon and Friday, then much colder

Friday’s been cold and windy with stray flurries and drifting snow in some open areas. At 4 p.m., the Twin Cities reported a temperature of 18 degrees with a west wind gusting 36 mph. Up in the northwest, Fosston and Thief River Falls reported just 7 degrees.

Turning milder

Temperatures will roller coaster heading into December. Winds will diminish overnight Wednesday and allow temperatures to drop into the single digits in most of the state. Minnesota’s northwest corner might slip a bit below zero. The Twin Cities should fall to around 6 degrees.

Here is a quick look at the next few days in and around the Twin Cities area:

Winds will become southeasterly and gusty as Thursday progresses. Afternoon highs will be in the 20s across northern Minnesota and 30s in the south. The Twin Cities should have a near-normal high around 33.

Milder air will continue to build into most of Minnesota for Friday. Highs will be just in the upper teens in the northwestern corner behind a cold front that will be entering that part of the state but as mild as the low 40s in the south.

The Twin Cities should top out in the upper 30s.

 Snow Friday-Friday night

That same cold front will spread snow and possibly areas of light rain, drizzle and freezing rain across Minnesota Friday and Friday night.

Most snowfall accumulations are likely to be light, especially in the southern half of the state, but heavier accumulations of several inches are possible across the north such as in the hilly northeast.

Cold Saturday

The cold front will exit Minnesota into Wisconsin early on Saturday and leave us with a very chilly day with high temperatures in the teens.

Sunday-Monday moderate, then cold returns

Temperatures will moderate somewhat Sunday and Monday before colder weather returns with a wintry slap on Tuesday and hangs around.

High temperatures on Tuesday might remain subzero in the northwest such as around Hallock, Warroad and Roseau.