Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

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That’s the physical process that transfers heat from one part of the planet to another. In this case, it’s persistent southerly winds that will send temperatures back into the 50s this Christmas holiday weekend.

A little perspective. We’re already running 9 degrees warmer than average so far this December in the Twin Cities. The average high and low are now 27 and 13 degrees.

Expect clouds, drizzle, and some fog through Friday around most of Minnesota. Highs will return to the 40s in the south once again Friday. 

Saturday will likely be dry across most of Minnesota. Highs will hit 50 degrees again from the Twin Cities south and west.

Christmas Eve brings likely record highs for most of southern Minnesota. The record high in the Twin Cities Sunday is 46 degrees set in 1957. We’ll easily make 50 degrees on Sunday.

Christmas brings cooler but still well-above-normal temperatures.

A major storm system is pounding Los Angeles with multi-inch rainfall Thursday.

That same system will push rain into Minnesota starting Christmas Eve. The rain will linger through parts of Christmas Day. NOAA’s GFS model shows the likely progressions of rain and some snow to the west and north. A follow-on system on Tuesday could produce light snow around the Twin Cities. 

Forecast models differ on rain and snowfall totals. Most suggest 1 to 2 inches of rainfall for southern Minnesota. 

Forecast models also crank out come snow for South Dakota, and lesser totals for northern Minnesota.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Another December warm front is on the way.

Record warmth and rainy this Christmas holiday

European model (ECMWF) precipitation output

Record warmth and rainy this Christmas holiday

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