Minnesota will see a couple of rounds of light snow midweek before temperatures turn colder in time for the new year.
Tuesday will start quiet, but a quick clipper will bring light snow mainly along and north of Interstate 94. Half an inch to an inch of accumulation is possible. The best chance for snow will occur mid to late morning through lunchtime.
Another clipper will follow on Wednesday morning, bringing a wider swath of light snow with up to an inch or slightly more in spots. Both systems will be fast-moving, but pull in colder air behind them.
New Year’s Day will turn cold sharply, with subzero lows and highs stuck in the single digits.
Temperatures will slowly recover over the weekend, with highs climbing back into the 20s.
On Saturday, cross-country skiers raced in Maple Grove, Minnesota, in an event that happened earlier than the normal.
“This year has been a much better start for us compared to last year,” said Ian Ivens, who’s a store manager for Pioneer Midwest that specializes in the sport. He also cross-country skis himself.
“It’s definitely more of a typical Minnesota winter than what we’ve had the last two,” said WCCO Meteorologist Adam Del Rosso.
Mother Nature has definitely helped those who rely on her.
“It’s [snow] the main factor,” said Ivens. “Two years ago, it wasn’t even that cold, so we had a hard time keeping artificial snow. Last year was a little better.”
Minnesota will turn a bit cooler on Tuesday, but conditions will stay calm.
Highs will be around 32 in the Twin Cities. Clouds will stick around, and areas of fog are possible as winds stay light and moisture hangs near the surface.
Temperatures will remain mild throughout the week.
Our next chance for precipitation comes Christmas night into Friday, with a low chance for light rain or freezing rain, with small but annoying impacts possible. Another system will brush the region late Saturday.
Colder air will arrive Sunday and linger into early next week before temperatures rebound again not long after.
Monday will start with a light wintry mix and a few slick spots in the Twin Cities, then settle into a quiet and fairly mild afternoon.
A winter weather advisory is in place until 8 a.m. for the metro and parts of southern Minnesota.
After the morning activity, the pattern turns calm, with temperatures running warmer than normal for late December. Clouds and some fog could limit how warm it actually feels. Southwestern Minnesota stands the best chance to break through the clouds and warm up more noticeably.
Looking ahead, one system bears watching for rain or freezing rain on Christmas before cooler air slips back in.
Sunday will be nice and sunny, with much lighter winds and temperatures around average.
There are some chances for light snow Sunday evening into Monday morning in eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Less than an inch of accumulation is expected from the metro on east.
Highs will climb into the 30s next week, with highs near 40 for Christmas Day on Thursday.
Temps will drop back into the low 30s next weekend.
Minnesota, get ready for an extremely complicated 48 hours of weather.
Wednesday will be dry and mild in the Twin Cities with highs in the 30s. There is a possibility of patchy drizzle in parts.
WCCO
Rain showers will arrive on Wednesday evening and continue through the overnight hours as temperatures remain in the upper 30s by daybreak.
A winter storm watch is in effect along and south of the Canadian border for up to 5-8 inches of blowing snow. The watch will likely be upgraded to a blizzard warning later Wednesday.
WCCO
An arctic cold front Thursday will drop temperatures from near 40 before sunrise to the 10s by dinnertime. Also expect off-and-on snow showers Thursday, with an inch or less of accumulation.
Roads may freeze over by Thursday evening’s commute, and could remain slippery through Friday morning’s rush hour.
WCCO
Friday will be cloudy, starting near or below zero, with wind chills in the minus 10s to minus 20s. Highs will eventually rise into the low 20s.
A dusting of snow is possible Friday night and early Saturday, but it will be a dry weekend with quite a bit of sun. Saturday will be the milder day with highs in the upper 20s. Sunday’s highs will drop into the 10s.
Highs hover near freezing through next week and beyond, which is above average for this time of year.
No big storms are expected next week, making for good local holiday travel conditions.
Thursday will start out quiet before a round of light snow slips across the state through the afternoon.
The system will start out in southwest Minnesota, then spread east. Most spots will see less than half an inch, though areas closer to the Minnesota River and Interstate 90 may see 1 to 2 inches.
WCCO
Temperatures will top out in the teens on Thursday. Colder air takes over Friday and will continue to tighten its grip through the weekend. Saturday and Sunday will both feature highs near zero, with wind chills dropping into the 30 below zero range early Sunday.
Monday will bring a noticeable warm-up that will continue through the week.
Tuesday’s storm is gone, but some lingering flurries will slide through the Twin Cities on Wednesday.
From Tuesday to early Wednesday, 4.1 inches fell at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the National Weather Service said.
Dozens of Minnesota schools are closed or delayed on Wednesday due to the snow.
No notable accumulations are expected amid Wednesday’s flurries, with temperatures hovering near 20 degrees all day.
A clipper on Thursday will throw some light snow to southwestern Minnesota, but will miss the metro.
WCCO
Cold will be the focus, with morning lows in the single digits and highs only in the teens.
Another clipper Friday morning has a better shot to throw some light snow at the metro. It could leave some slick spots for the Friday morning commute, but amounts will be minimal.
Temps tumble big time behind the clipper, going from the teens Friday afternoon to below zero Saturday morning.
It stays bitterly cold all weekend with highs Saturday near 0 and wind chills in the minus teens.
Sunday morning will be the coldest period before we rebound back into the 20s by Monday afternoon.
Temps stay closer to average next week with no major storms on the horizon at this point.
Friday will start out quiet and cold in Minnesota, but a winter snowstorm will arrive by nightfall and drag across the state into Saturday.
Highs on Friday will be in the mid-20s and clouds will increase through the afternoon.
A winter storm warning will be in effect along Interstate 90 starting Friday night. A winter weather advisory will also be in place for western Minnesota through the east metro. WCCO has issued a NEXT Weather Alert.
WCCO
The snow will begin in southwestern Minnesota Friday night, then expand across southern and eastern Minnesota on Saturday. Areas along I-90 could see 5 to 8 inches. Closer to the metro, 2 to 5 inches is likely, with higher totals to the south and less snow to the north.
Sharply colder air arrives behind the storm, dropping highs into the teens for Sunday and Monday. Lows will be near or below zero. Wind chills will drop below zero each morning.
Early next week stays quiet before another brief cold push midweek.
Minnesota’s first winter storm of the season will push out Wednesday morning, but tough travel conditions and biting cold will linger.
A winter storm warning will remain in place through mid-morning, and a NEXT Weather Alert is also active.
NEXT Weather Watchers in central Minnesota reported between 5 and 8 inches, while the official measurement at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was 3.1 inches.
Blowing snow will create reduced visibility and icy spots on Wednesday.
Much colder air will pour in behind the departing system, keeping highs in the 20s and wind chills in the single digits.
Thanksgiving looks to be quiet and bright, but cold, with highs in the 20s and light winds.
Another round of snow is set to arrive late Friday into Saturday, with a few more inches possible south of Interstate 94.
Early next week will likely turn even colder, with highs in the teens and single-digit lows as December begins.
WCCO
Follow the updates below for the latest information.
Minnesota’s first winter storm of the season will roll in Tuesday afternoon, bringing wind, snow and a sharp temperature drop that will make travel difficult.
The storm will manifest first as rain before transitioning to snow, which should happen in the late afternoon or early evening in the Twin Cities.
A winter storm warning will be in effect starting at 6 p.m. for a large swath of the state, stretching from the Arrowhead to parts of southern Minnesota, and including the Twin Cities. A NEXT Weather Alert is also in effect.
WCCO
The heaviest snow will likely hit the corridor north of Interstate 94; several inches could accumulate. Areas to the south will see lighter totals, but still impactful conditions. By noon on Wednesday, the metro could see 3 to 5 inches, while areas up north could see as many as 8 inches on the ground.
A quick freeze Tuesday evening could turn untreated surfaces icy as winds ramp up and visibility drops.
Thanksgiving looks cold and breezy, with temperatures in the teens in the morning and the 20s in the afternoon.
A colder stretch settles in late this week, with another snow chance on Friday and into the weekend.
A narrow band of precipitation may bother drivers south of the Twin Cities on Tuesday morning.
WCCO
Rain could transition to snow in parts closer to sunrise, and the whole affair should wrap up around mid-morning. No measurable snow is expected, but roads will be wet.
WCCO
Expect highs around 40 in the metro.
Wednesday will be quiet and seasonable, with highs in the upper 30s to low 40s.
Thursday will be dry and slightly warmer as highs climb to the mid-40s.
As the week wraps up and we head into the weekend, highs will approach 50. There will be low overnight chances for light precipitation.
Areas south of the Twin Cities should brace for some snow Monday night as a wintry mix moves through.
Precipitation isn’t expected to begin until the early evening hours, with rain transitioning to snow at around midnight.
Most of the precipitation is expected to be south of Interstate 94. The south metro is looking to get less than a half-inch of slushy snow and impacts to the Tuesday morning commute will likely be minimal.
A narrow, heavier snow band could potentially drop 1 to 3 inches of slushy snow between the south metro and Interstate 90. Cities with heavier snow could include Red Wing, Zumbrota, Wabasha, Winona and Chatfield.
WCCO
At this time, a NEXT Weather Alert is not being issued. However, there may be a NEXT Drive Alert due to travel impacts from the heavier band of possible snow.
WCCO
Highs on Monday will be seasonable and in the lower 40s, with cloudy skies.
Precipitation is expected to gradually taper by 8 a.m. Tuesday, and highs will be similar to Monday’s, so expect melting of whatever snow we do receive.
Above-average highs in the upper 40s are expected by midweek and low 40s for the rest of the week.
The next precipitation chance is rain on Thursday.
Wednesday will be dry and breezy at times in the Twin Cities, with mild temperatures.
Expect some sunshine and highs in the low to mid-50s. After a stunning northern lights show Tuesday night, Minnesotans will get another chance to spot them on Wednesday.
Thursday will be mostly sunny and mild, with highs in the 50s.
Friday will be the warmest day of the week as highs climb into the 60s.
Saturday will be mild early, then turn cooler late, with a few light showers possible.
As we transition into next week, things turn dry and seasonable, with highs in the 40s and 50s.
A warming trend takes hold in the Twin Cities on Tuesday, with a stretch of quiet days ahead.
Highs will be in the upper 40s, with mostly cloudy skies and wind gusts near 30 mph. Western Wisconsin may see some flurries early.
With clear skies overnight, there may be a chance to see the northern lights.
Wednesday will be mostly sunny and a bit breezy, with highs in the low 50s.
It’ll be mild again Thursday as highs reach the mid-50s with light winds.
We’ll keep warming into the weekend, with highs near 60 possible on Friday and Saturday. After that, temperatures will cool slightly but remain above average.
November is a month well known for being a transition month on the Great Lakes.
Powerful storms, intense winds, arctic air and even bursts of warmth all play a role in creating the tumbler of weather the region experiences. The gales of November would go down as another annual weather phenomenon if it weren’t for the ship and crew we remember every year on the 10th of November.
The Edmund Fitzgerald is a legend on the lakes, the Queen of the Lakes at the time, and the largest freighter to ever go down.
Unpacking the November storm season
In the month of November, the state of Michigan is in a corridor of higher activity as we transition from summer to winter.
The jet stream aligns well to act as a highway for low-pressure systems to roll through.
Arctic air begins to intrude into the U.S., and these areas of low pressure will ride the edge of these air masses into the region.
While the air is colder, the Great Lakes have not fully cooled from their summer heat and are therefore far warmer, thus providing a “shot in the arm” to storm systems as they arrive.
Side effects of this can be a combination of lake-effect precipitation, strong winds, and significant waves.
What happened during the storm of November 1975
Low pressure began to form to the east of the Rockies on Nov. 8. By the morning of Nov. 9, it had organized over Kansas and begun a trek northeastward.
By the evening of Nov. 9, the storm system had strengthened with a pressure of 933 millibars.
As the low travelled northeast over a warm Lake Michigan, it continued to strengthen.
On the morning of Nov. 10, pressure was down to 982 millibars after undergoing rapid intensification.
The occluded low pressure brought with it strong gales and intense wave heights that caused significant issues with shipping and would eventually lead to the sinking of the Fitzgerald.
Winds and waves mounted against the Edmund Fitzgerald
Wind speeds of 50 knots were recorded on eastern portions of Lake Superior at the time, approximately 58 mph.
Continual wave heights of 16 to 18 feet were recorded by multiple crews, but peak waves are much larger when they occur.
Wave heights 35 feet above the water line battered the Arthur M. Anderson, the freighter famous for being the last to communicate with the Fitzgerald.
Peak waves of 20 to 25 feet were also likely in that area throughout the evening hours.
This storm would be enough to batter other ships on the lakes, but it proved too much for the Edmund Fitzgerald to handle that night.
Improvements with forecasting, monitoring, and emergency alert and response drastically improved on the lakes in the years following.
Mild weather continues in the Twin Cities on Tuesday, with a pleasant fall day on tap.
Expect a mix of clouds and sunshine with highs near 60 and a light breeze.
Cooler air moves in on Wednesday, bringing breezy winds with it.
Thursday will be quiet and calm, with sunshine and highs in the lower 50s.
Clouds will increase on Friday, with rain chances developing late in the day. A stronger system arrives on Saturday, bringing rain to much fo the area and possibly a wintry mix for some spots. Highs will drop to the 30s over the weekend.
Wednesday will be the nicest day of the week in the Twin Cities, as clouds and cooler temperatures build into Halloween and the start of the weekend.
All parts of Minnesota will see at least a little sunshine on Wednesday with highs back in the 50s.
Thursday kicks off a mostly cloudy stretch that will last through Saturday morning, when the sun returns.
High temps will fall a few degrees each day: around 50 on Thursday, upper 40s on Halloween Friday and mid 40s on Saturday.
A sprinkle is possible on Halloween, but nothing that will ruin your costume.
The clock falls back an hour overnight Sunday, with sunshine and temps in the mid 50s to low 60s, albeit breezy.
It will stay quiet through the first week of November, with mostly dry and mostly mild temperatures. Remember, average highs for this time of year are in the mid 40s.
Rain will linger for some parts of Minnesota on Tuesday.
Western and central Minnesota will see the rain throughout the day, with an inch possible out west when it’s all said and done. The Twin Cities area is likely to see about half an inch, with the west metro wetter than the east. The Interstate 35 corridor should be the dividing line.
WCCO
Southwestern Minnesota will see wind gusts over 40 mph, with lighter winds elsewhere.
Quiet weather returns on Wednesday and Thursday, with highs in the upper 40s to low 50s.
Halloween looks cool but decent, with more clouds and some spotty showers possible, but nothing too disruptive.
Monday will be breezy and increasingly cloudy in the Twin Cities ahead of an early week stretch of rain.
There will be some sunshine to start the week, but clouds will increase throughout the day. Expect a high around 60.
The rain should arrive Monday night and last through Wednesday morning, with up to half an inch possible. The highest totals will be west and south of the metro.
The end of the week looks dry and seasonable. Halloween will be partly cloudy and cool, with temperatures near normal.
