Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Freeze-thaw this week; bigger thaw next week

Milder-than-normal temps this week around Minnesota

NOAA 6 to 10-day temperature outlook
Six to 10-day temperature outlook
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

It’s a balmy start to February, the last month of meteorological winter in Minnesota.

Temperatures are running 3.7 degrees warmer than normal so far this month in the Twin Cities. This week will feature more freeze-and-thaw cycles with daytime highs above freezing the rest in southern Minnesota.

Forecast high temperatures Tuesday
Forecast high temperatures Tuesday
NOAA

There is a chance for a little (light) rain or snow mix on Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System hints at a weaker system sliding through. Check out the map below.

NOAA GFS model
Global Forecast System model for Thursday from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
NOAA via tropical tidbits

Bigger thaw next week

The weather maps for North America continue to favor what we meteorologists call a zonal (west to east) Pacific flow across our region into next week.

A trough in the west will deliver colder air and storms there, while a milder ridge builds in the east and includes Minnesota on the western edge.

NOAA GFS upper air forecast
Global Forecast System upper-air forecast between next Monday and Wednesday
NOAA, via Tropical Tidbits

That pattern will pump even milder air early next week. Models suggest highs in the 40s are likely in the south with, some 50s possible close to the Twin Cities next week.

Forecast high temperatures Sunday
Forecast high temperatures Sunday
NOAA