Cooler but still well above normal this week

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Winter seemingly only started on Jan. 6. That’s the first date this season the Twin Cities dipped below freezing to stay for any extended period. 

Yes, we’ll probably get another blast of arctic air and more subzero weather in February, and March is usually more winter than spring in Minnesota. But if we lack snow cover in March and Pacific air persists, I could see this being an early spring overall. We’ll see.

Our 12-day-old deep freeze continues for about another 60 hours. Highs Friday will hover around zero up north and stagger to around 7 in the Twin Cities. 

The coldest temperatures this weekend arrive Saturday morning. I could see minus 20 up north. Subzero lows will cover most of Minnesota. 

By Sunday afternoon you’ll notice the transition to Pacific air beginning. Highs will reach the 20s in some areas.

Below, check out the upper-air pattern over the next 10 days. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model shows pulses of warmer-than-average air masses, as depicted by the upper airflow. The warmest days may arrive in the last days of January.

Highs by the middle of next week will push well into the 30s across much of Minnesota. 

I won’t be shocked to see 40 degrees somewhere in Minnesota later next week. 

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

A major pattern change will bring a long mild spell to Minnesota. 

Arctic weekend gives way to a January thaw next week

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA

Forecast low temperatures Saturday morning

Arctic weekend gives way to a January thaw next week

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