Tuesday night snow in central Minnesota; colder Wednesday

Tuesday has been a cold and snowy day across northern Minnesota. Many temperatures near the Canadian border remained in the single digits for the afternoon. Snowfall amounts have been mostly light and have been coming to an end from west to east during the afternoon.

Heavy snow did fall for a time in Duluth, and I saw a report of 6 inches of snow near Pine River in Cass County, north of Nisswa. The fresh snow decorated the landscape and provided an opportunity for cross-country skiing at the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Itasca State Park.

Mississippi River headwaters in Itasca State Park
Mississippi River headwaters in Itasca State Park
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

More snow Tuesday night

Another disturbance will trigger snowfall for mainly central Minnesota, mostly south of Tuesday’s snow, from west to east Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

Detroit Lakes, Alexandria, Brainerd, Mille Lacs, Duluth, Mora, Hinckley and Cambridge are among the areas that could see an inch or two. The Twin Cities area might get grazed by the southern edge of this snow area around sunrise on Wednesday and pick up a light coating, especially on the north side.

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Cold Tuesday

Northern Minnesota will remain seriously cold Tuesday night. Low temperatures in the northwest corner are likely to drop to 20 to 25 below zero around Hallock, Roseau and Warroad.

A wind chill advisory has been posted for northwestern Minnesota from 6 p.m. Tuesday until noon Wednesday. Wind chills could drop as low as 35 below zero.

Wind chill advisory Tuesday night and Wednesday morning
Wind chill advisory Tuesday night and Wednesday morning
National Weather Service

High temperatures on Wednesday should range from around zero in the northwest corner to near 30 in southeastern Minnesota around Preston, Lanesboro and Caledonia.

The Twin Cities should have a morning low around 12 degrees with that chance of light snow and an afternoon high near 20.

Snow likely Thursday

Forecast models have been nudging the next weather system farther north as it comes out of the Central Plains. It now looks as though snow will spread from Iowa into southern Minnesota Thursday.

Heaviest accumulations are likely to be in southern Minnesota, but some snow is likely as far north as the Twin Cities area and maybe central Minnesota Thursday night.

Milder temperatures beginning Thursday

Temperatures at or a bit above seasonal norms are likely from Thursday through the weekend.

Forecast high temperatures Saturday
Forecast high temperatures Saturday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Prediction Center

Possible storm early next week

Models are also teasing us with a chance of a storm with snow and maybe forms of mixed precipitation early next week.

Not too cold next week

The extended outlook for next week calls for milder than normal temperatures to hang around Minnesota and Wisconsin while colder air blankets the West.

6-10 day temperature outlook for December 12-16
6-10 day temperature outlook for Dec. 12-16
NOAA Climate Prediction Center