Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Our Sunday weather was pleasant for outdoor activities.

Sunday afternoon high temperatures were March-like across Minnesota and western Wisconsin, with upper 30s to lower 40s in most locations.

The Sunday high temp at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was 43 degrees. That’s well above the average Feb. 12 Twin Cities high of 27 degrees.

International Falls hit 45 degrees, setting a new Feb. 12 high temperature record. International Falls also set a new record high on Saturday, when they hit 47 degrees.

Monday high temps will reach the lower 40s in many areas, including the Twin Cities:

There could be some mid-40s from Bemidji to International Falls.

Looking ahead, Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to reach about 40 degrees on Tuesday, followed by mid 30s Wednesday. Metro area highs will retreat to about 20 degrees on Thursday, followed by lower 20s Friday. Metro area highs will probably return to the 30s next weekend.

A low pressure system will spread rain across most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Tuesday. The rain continues Tuesday evening in the Twin Cities metro area and points to the east and southeast, but the rain is expected to mix with snow in much of western and northern Minnesota Tuesday evening. Those areas will probably see a transition to all snow Tuesday night into Wednesday, with a rain/snow mix in the Twin Cities metro area and points to the east and southeast during that time.  

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale (NAM) forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern from 3 a.m. Tuesday to 3 p.m. Wednesday:

The temperature profile will determine the timing of the changeover from rain to snow or a rain/snow mix. It looks like the northern third of Minnesota has the potential to see several inches of snow from Tuesday evening into Wednesday afternoon.

Here are precipitation details for northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, from the Duluth NWS office:

Current model info indicates that the Twin Cities metro area may see just a coating of snow Tuesday night into Wednesday, but check forecast updates.

You can find updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the Minnesota Public Radio News 

I should mention that parts of southeastern Minnesota. eastern Iowa and central/southern Wisconsin could see a plowable snow on Thursday as a low pressure system tracks to our southeast.

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Ron Trenda

Author

We’ll have another March-like day on Monday. Tuesday looks soggy, then parts of Minnesota will see a plowable snow Tuesday night into Wednesday.

40s again on Monday; Tuesday rain, then a mix to snow by Wednesday

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