Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Total lunar eclipse Tuesday morning; spring preview this week

Fewer clouds north for the eclipse. Temperatures in the 50s this week.

Blood Moon Eclipse
Blood Moon Eclipse. Time is in GMT.
NASA via youtube.com

Are you an early riser? If so, you may want to take a gander in the western sky between about 4:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The total Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse will hide the setting full Worm Moon in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday.

Here’s more detail on the eclipse timing for Minnesota from timeanddate.com.

Eclipse timing for Minneapolis.
Eclipse timing for Minneapolis.
timeanddate.com

Clouds will cover much of southern Minnesota early Tuesday, so they may hide or filter the eclipse. But fewer clouds are likely in the north and viewing could be much better. It may be worth a look in the north or if we can manage any breaks in the clouds in the south.

Spring preview this week

Twin Cities forecast at a glance
Twin Cities forecast at a glance.
Twin Cities NWS Office

March is typically more winter than spring in Minnesota. The average snowfall in the Twin Cities is 8.2 inches for March. We rarely get through this month without any snowfall at this latitude.

But this first week of March looks decidedly springy. Tuesday brings a cloudy mix with peeks of sun and highs into the low 50s.

Forecast high temperatures Tuesday
Forecast high temperatures Tuesday.
NOAA

Wednesday and Thursday look more sunny. Our higher March sun angle is plenty to boost temperatures now as milder air masses drift into Minnesota. Highs well into the 50s will make it feel springy Wednesday and Thursday.

Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
Forecast high temperatures Wednesday.
NOAA

The end of the week brings a chance of rain Friday with possible snow west and north.

The weekend looks sunny with highs in the 40s Saturday to near 60 in the south Sunday afternoon.

Forecast high temperatures Sunday
Forecast high temperatures Sunday.
NOAA

Enjoy the thaw for now.