Winter storm warnings in northern Minnesota

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Clouds increase Wednesday but it will be warmer with highs well into the 50s. Showers move into northwestern Minnesota Wednesday afternoon and spread east. Central and southern Minnesota will see mainly overnight showers with snow possible northeast.

Wednesday will be warmer with highs well into the 50s across the state. The North Shore and northwestern Minnesota will be cooler, in the upper 40s.

Clouds will increase however ahead of the first of several rain chances ahead. Showers will move into northwestern Minnesota by late Wednesday afternoon and spread east and turn to snow in the Arrowhead. 

Central and southern Minnesota will mainly see evening or overnight scattered showers.

While the Arrowhead will see some snow, any accumulations will be relatively light.

Thursday will see a mix of clouds and sun with warmer temperatures. Highs will be in the 60s across the southern half of the state.

We’ll have a few afternoon showers Thursday focused along a stalled frontal boundary. We remain unsettled and mostly cloudy Friday into the weekend with temperatures cooling back off into the 40s and low 50s.

It was a cold start to spring in March and the start of April. A heat wave accelerated lake ice-outs, but they’ve largely stalled now with the cold temperatures and cloudy periods.

There hasn’t been an ice-out declared since April 19, a week ago! That’s unusual for this time of year when spring is usually progressing at a fast pace. Here’s a look at median ice-out for Minnesota lakes:

Comparing both maps above, you can see that we’re about 100 miles south or behind on ice-out. That’s not surprising considering the recent cold temperatures but it is unusual this late. 

Here’s another view of where lakes are ice free versus ice covered on visible satellite imagery:

Most of the white specs above are ice covered lakes. You can make out Lake Minnetonka and other smaller lakes across southern Minnesota that are ice-free. 

Most lakes this spring so far have been about a week or so behind their median ice outs. As soon as temperatures warm up again ice out will progress quickly.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Sven Sundgaard

Author

Clouds increase Wednesday but it will be warmer with highs well into the 50s. Showers move into northwestern Minnesota Wednesday afternoon and spread east. Central and southern Minnesota will see mainly overnight showers with snow possible northeast.


Temperatures will be warmer Wednesday with more sun through the morning. Clouds will increase through the afternoon as showers make their way into northern Minnesota late and spread southeast into Wednesday night.

Shower chances ahead; cool weather slows lake ice-outs

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