Freeze-thaw cycles mean pothole season; quieter skies ahead

Happy meteorological spring, Minnesota.

March is a transition month for us. It’s still typically more winter than spring, but our average temperatures are gradually rising now. The worst of winter’s cold is now behind us.

See how the average temperature channel is on the upswing?

The average high and low temperatures on March 1 in the Twin Cities are 34 and 18 degrees. By April 1, the average high and low warm to 50 and 32 degrees.

Freeze-thaw cycles ahead

We’re moving into peak freeze-thaw season in Minnesota. Our daytime highs typically run into the 30s and 40s this month, but overnight lows still dip below freezing. That means all that water turns to ice at night. And that’s the process that destroys our Minnesota roads.

Frigid temperatures blow into Minnesota again by Thursday morning behind our Wednesday snow. Lows will dip to near minus 10 up north with teens above zero in the south.

Highs will rise above freezing again by Friday across most of Minnesota.

By Sunday, temperatures will push 40 degrees in southern Minnesota. It’s been remarkably warm in the east and central Plains this year. Note the highs around 70 once again as far north as Missouri.

Quiet weather pattern

Our barrage of wintry storms is taking a break over the next few days. The next major storm system will pass well south of Minnesota on Thursday.

A significant severe weather outbreak with tornadoes is likely Thursday across the southern Plains.

For Minnesota, look for a mix of clouds and sun, but mainly dry weather through Saturday. The next minor weather system brings a chance of light rain and snow Sunday into Monday.