Warmer and bright Wednesday; weekend snow showers possible

Morning temperatures Wednesday were already 15 to 30 degrees warmer than early Tuesday. We’ll see highs in the 40s across southern Minnesota Wednesday. Temperatures will be slightly cooler Thursday.

Warmer and bright Wednesday

What a difference 24 hours makes. Early Tuesday temperatures were mostly in the single digits compared to 20s Wednesday morning. That’s a full 15 to 30 degrees warmer in 24 hours. High temperatures Wednesday afternoon will be in the 40s across southern Minnesota and 30s north. 

We’ll also have lots of sunshine Wednesday with just some scattered high clouds occasionally. 

Slightly cooler Thursday with possible weekend snow showers

A weak cool front will slide through early Thursday, dropping temperatures slightly into the weekend. 

High temperatures Thursday will be mostly in the 30s, but still a few degrees above normal. We’ll also continue the streak of sunshine for most of Minnesota Thursday and Friday.

The next storm system moving into the Upper Midwest over the weekend will be complex. There are still questions on its track, but it looks like the bulk of moisture will fall to the south across Iowa and southern Wisconsin into northern Illinois.

A broad upper-level trough and the associated energy will extend from southern Canada into Illinois. 

One of the differences in the models to be worked out is how much energy and moisture will be in the northern versus southern portions of this trough.

Some models are producing more snow in Minnesota as a result of a more aggressive northern portion of the system, while other models are less impressed and keep energy and moisture concentrated farther south. 

Beyond this bit of activity, temperatures look to remain mild overall. The six to 10-day temperature outlook calls for high odds of above normal temperatures.