Storms start to move out of Minnesota, continue for western Wisconsin

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November was drier than normal across much of Minnesota. Snowfall was well below normal in most areas:

Just 0.04 (four-hundredths) of an inch of precipitation was recorded this November at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Precipitation includes rainfall plus the water content of the one-half inch of snow that was tallied at MSP airport. It was the second-driest November in Twin Cities weather records. 

The Twin Cities average temp for the month of November was 3.7 degrees warmer than normal.  November was the seventh-consecutive warmer than normal month in the Twin Cities.

The official Twin Cities snowfall total at MSP airport was 2.7 inches in October, so October was snowier than November this year. According to the National Weather Service, October has been snowier than November just nine times in Twin Cities snowfall records dating back to 1884. 

December 2023 may be warmer and drier than normal across much of Minnesota. Here’s the December temperature outlook from the NWS Climate Prediction Center:

Here’s the December precipitation outlook:

The average Twin Cities high temperature is 34 degrees on Dec. 2. Metro area highs are forecast to reach the upper 30s Saturday and Sunday.

Much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin will have Saturday highs in the 30s, with some lower 40s to the southwest:

Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to reach the upper 30s on Monday, then around 40 degrees Tuesday followed by lower 40s Wednesday, mid 40s Thursday and lower 40s on Friday.

A low pressure system tracks to our southeast Saturday afternoon into Sunday. Roughly the southeastern half of Iowa and parts of southern and central Wisconsin could see a couple inches of snow from Saturday evening into Sunday morning. 

Lighter snow accumulations are possible in parts of southeastern Minnesota, mainly Saturday night into early Sunday. A few flurries are possible Saturday night into Sunday morning in the Twin Cities metro area and up into northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern from noon on Saturday to 6 p.m. Sunday:

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR News 

Northern lights pictures from Thursday night and early Friday can be found 

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

Ron Trenda

Author

November was drier and warmer than normal in the Twin Cities. We recap November and peek at the December outlook. Some spots in Minnesota will see some flakes this weekend.  

Second-driest Nov. in Twin Cities records; weekend flake chances highest southeast

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