Cooler but still well above normal this week

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Welcome to the coldest two weeks of winter — climatologically speaking, anyway. The average high and low in the Twin Cities this week and next hover around 23 and 8 degrees. 

Our Thursday cold front blows in fresh cold Canadian air for a couple of days that will cool Minnesota closer to average through Friday. 

But southwest winds will return by Saturday. Our January thaw will peak Sunday afternoon with temperatures closing in on 40 degrees in southern Minnesota. 

I think the forecast temperature map below will be a few degrees too conservative Sunday:

So far this month, temperatures are running 4.6 degrees warmer than average in the Twin Cities. It’s been a remarkable 8.2 degrees warmer than average in Duluth so far this month! 

In fact, it’s been a sea of red across the Midwest this January.

Right now temperatures look likely to be 10 to 15 degrees warmer than average across Minnesota between Saturday and Monday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s six to 10-day temperature outlook (top of post) strongly favors warmer-than-average temperatures.

So it looks like we’ll be significantly warmer than average overall through at least mid-January. There are signs of colder air later this month, but the odds of a warmer-than-average January this year are higher than usual.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

After a frigid December, January is off and running on warm notes.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA

Temperature departure from average this month 

A warmer-than-average January?

Go Deeper.

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