Cooler but still well above normal this week

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Enjoy our seemingly eternal spring while it lasts. A big pattern change to colder, more seasonable March weather is ahead. 

But for now, we bask in another day of near-record warmth. We’ll likely stop short of our record high of 70 degrees today for March 12. But we’ll be a lot closer to a record than our normal high of 40 degrees in the Twin Cities.

On the map at the top of this post, you can see the mild plume Tuesday afternoon extending north from the central Plains with 60s all the way into Minnesota.

Wednesday brings one more unseasonably mild May-like day to southern Minnesota. Highs will reach the 60s once again.

A low-pressure system tracking south of Minnesota will produce some soaking rains Thursday. The bulk of the rain is likely to fall south of the Twin Cities. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model shows the rain shield with possible thunderstorms riding through southeastern Minnesota Thursday. 

The best chance for a good soaking rain is in southern Minnesota locations like Owatonna, Waseca, Rochester, Winona and Albert Lea. NOAA’s Global Forecast System model suggests 1 to 2 inches of rain could fall across southeastern Minnesota on Thursday. 

Highs in the 30s north and 40s south will be common from Thursday through Saturday.

Temperatures by Sunday will revert to more typical March readings, even a few degrees colder than normal for a change. 

The colder weather looks likely to persist into next week. 

Will March go out more like a lion this year?

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Mild through Wednesday; rain mostly south of Twin Cities Thursday

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