Drama-free weather this week; colder with snow possible next week

That was a most-unusual December we just had. Warmest December of record statewide. Rain and drizzle instead of snow. Lake ice rotting and melting. Wild stuff, for sure.

In the Twin Cities, December was more than 12 degrees warmer than average and was easily the warmest December of record. Snowfall was a meager 2.1 inches, which was less than the 2.7 inches that fell in October.

So we enjoyed a white Halloween but a brown Christmas.

Quiet weather just about nationwide

The national map does not include any winter storm warnings across the U.S. That’s good news for returning holiday travelers, both over the road and through the air. There is, however, a blizzard warning for the Arctic Coast of northern Alaska (red color on inset map at bottom left).

Much of that warning will be for 72 hours from early Tuesday morning into Friday morning, and for winds gusting as high as 70 mph. That’s some nasty winter weather.

Quiet weather is here for the start of 2024

The first week of January will continue generally on the mild side of normal, although lingering pesky low clouds kept the Twin Cities from warming to the forecast highs around 30 on Monday.

No snowstorms are on tap. A dusting of light snow is possible Tuesday into Tuesday night.

A more active weather pattern beginning next weekend

A couple disturbances will bring chances of measurable snow late in the week. The first one could spread light accumulations across southern Minnesota from Friday into Saturday.

Then another, stronger ripple could put a few inches down across northern parts of the state on Sunday as the bulk of the snow falls in Canada.

Milder temperatures Tuesday

Those dreary low clouds have been scattering out from northwest to southeast on Monday. But clearing will be short-lived as more stratus will arrive by Tuesday morning ahead of the aforementioned light snow or flurries.

Temperatures will be a little warmer, with highs from the upper 20s to low 30s. The high in the Twin Cities should be about 33.

Temperatures the rest of the week will range from close to normal to 5 to 10 degrees above normal except for the northwest corner which will be the chilly spot this week.

Colder next week, and maybe snow

The weather maps seem likely to become more typical of winter next week. A large winter storm from the southwest could spread snow as far north as Minnesota and Wisconsin early next week.

Early forecasts are tending to keep the brunt of the storm to our southeast, but there is plenty of time for that to change.

Cold air is forecast to pool over the Canadian prairies beginning early next week. The 8-14 day temperature outlook for Jan. 9-15 is for a good chance of colder-than-normal temperatures for Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as points west and south.