Wintry mix Thursday night, another storm Friday

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Reduced air quality remains Monday and Tuesday as well as the possibility of freezing fog in the early mornings and overnight. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has posted an air quality alert through noon Tuesday for central and northwestern Minnesota.

Temperatures will be above normal with light snow Tuesday night.

High temperatures will be above normal Monday afternoon ranging from the upper teens in the northwest to low 30s in the southeast. We’ll see partly cloudy skies. 

Overnight temperatures will not be nearly as cold, mostly in the teens to low 20s with pockets of single digits in the Red River Valley.

We’ll continue to see patchy freezing fog with the stagnant air and high moisture content.

High temperatures Tuesday will again be mainly in the 20s to low 30s but with increased cloud cover.

Lower air quality; snow showers Tuesday night

In addition to the fog and haze, we’ve had reduced air quality for much of central and southern Minnesota the last few days. From the Twin Cities to St. Cloud and Brainerd, we have particles measured at 104 to 121. Good air quality is under 50.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on Monday posted an air quality alert through noon Tuesday for central and northwestern Minnesota.

The reason for the air quality issues is a massive temperature inversion and high pressure sitting over us. The high pressure creates light winds, which reduces the mixing of air and the temperature inversion keeps the air stratified. 

For example, temperatures at the surface early Monday were in the single digits but going up just 900 feet above the ground it was in the low 40s! This literally traps surface air and all its pollutants.

The forecast calls for continued moderate air quality issues, so those with health conditions should avoid outdoor activity.

A clipper system that will bring light snow showers Tuesday night should mix up the atmosphere a bit and help improve air quality once again.

While most of us will see just a coating of snow, we could see a swath of up to 2 inches in north-central Minnesota and even a bit more along the North Shore and the Arrowhead.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Sven Sundgaard

Author

Reduced air quality remains Monday and Tuesday as well as the possibility of freezing fog in the early mornings and overnight. Temperatures will be above normal with light snow Tuesday night.

Patchy freezing fog then partly cloudy Monday with above normal temperatures ranging from the upper teens northwest to low 30s southeast. Light snow is possible Tuesday night.

Above-normal temps, lower air quality; light snow Tuesday night

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