Saturday snow south; arctic week ahead
Late January cold wave arrives; 20s above zero by next Friday
A long overdue January temperature correction is here.
A classic Alberta clipper leads the way Friday with 1 to 2 inches of fresh fluffy snowfall across much of Minnesota. Here are some select snowfall totals from Friday morning’s system:
Arctic temperature correction
Brisk northwest winds are funneling colder arctic air into Minnesota. Economists might call our temperature adjustment more correction than crash.
Temperatures are running 7 degrees warmer than average in the Twin Cities through Jan. 27. It’s been 13 degrees warmer than average this January in International Falls on the Canadian border.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System seems reasonable over the next 48 hours in gauging the cold air pulses across Minnesota. Lows should fall to around minus 10 in the Twin Cities by Monday morning, with minus 20s and some minus 30s in the colder nooks and crannies like Embarrass, Minn., up north this weekend.
The air will be subzero but not anywhere near the minus 30 range in the Twin Cities, which is where cold records sit for this weekend. Temperatures will likely bottom out around minus 10 in the Twin Cities Sunday and Monday mornings.
Our arctic chill will last through most of next week. There are signs we may return to the 20s above zero by next Friday.
I-90 snow Saturday
A potent follow-on Alberta clipper will bring snow to southern Minnesota overnight through most of Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers parts of southern Minnesota through Saturday.
NOAA’s NAM 3 km model shows the snow zone moving across southern Minnesota between 3 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday.
Overall snowfall totals between 2 and 6 inches are almost certain for the Interstate 90 corridor across southern Minnesota. Snowfall totals will diminish moving north.
If you are planning to travel across southern Minnesota Saturday be ready for snow and slick roads.