Twin Cities hits 40, warmest since November; thaw lingers into next week

30s again for much of Minnesota Thursday

Welcome to the warmest day since late fall in the Twin Cities and much of Minnesota.

The thermometer at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport hit 40 degrees around midday Wednesday. That’s the first time we’ve recorded 40 degrees since Nov. 28, 2022.

Bright sunshine and a mild Pacific flow over Minnesota are producing temperatures more than 10 degrees warmer than average Wednesday. The average high on this date for the Twin Cities is 26 degrees.

Here are some other select temperatures as of midday. Most locations will add a few more degrees, so these are likely not the daytime maximum temperatures.

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  • Ely, 40 degrees

  • Canby, (western Minnesota) 41 degrees

  • Detroit Lakes, 41 degrees

  • Bemidji, 42 degrees

  • Waskish (eastern shore of Upper Red Lake), 43 degrees

Thursday brings a few more clouds as a significant winter storm passes southeast of most of Minnesota. If you are planning to travel to eastern Iowa or southern Wisconsin, expect between 4 and 8 inches of snow Thursday.

Snowfall projection
Snowfall projection.
La Crosse, Wis., National Weather Service office

Highs in most of Minnesota will be in the 30s again Thursday.

Forecast high temperatures Thursday
Forecast high temperatures Thursday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Friday brings a quick one-day cool-off with highs back into the 20s.

Forecast high temperatures Friday
Forecast high temperatures Friday
NOAA

The thaw resumes this weekend into next week. Highs will be well into the 30s again, and we may hit 40 again by next Monday and Tuesday.

Forecast high temperatures Sunday
Forecast high temperatures Sunday
NOAA

It looks like high temperatures could be at or above freezing in much of Minnesota for about seven of eight days.

Stay tuned.