Celebrate meteorological spring; snow possible Monday
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You can celebrate spring twice each year. Meteorological spring begins today and runs through May.
Meteorologists designate the three coldest months (December, January, February) as winter, and the three warmest months (June, July, August) as summer.
The three months between winter and summer are called meteorological spring. Astronomical spring is March 20 this year.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has additional details about meteorological versus astronomical spring.
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Mild weather continues
Our average high temp in the Twin Cities metro area is 34 degrees this time of year.
Highs across most of Minnesota should reach the upper 30s this Thursday afternoon, with a few spots touching 40. Far northwestern Minnesota could see lower 30s.
Southern Minnesota should reach the lower 40s Friday afternoon, with 30s elsewhere:
Temperatures in the 40s will be common in central and southern Minnesota Saturday afternoon, and a few spots in southeastern Minnesota and the Twin Cities area will flirt with 50:
Twin Cities metro area highs may reach the upper 40s Sunday and around 40 on Monday, followed by 30s on Tuesday.
Sloppy storm begins Sunday night
March is our third snowiest month of the year in the Twin Cities metro area. The metro area could see some wet snowflakes as early as Monday afternoon.
Much of Minnesota will see some rain on Sunday.
Snow or a mix of rain and snow could arrive in northern Minnesota Sunday night. As we go through Monday, the snow spreads southward, and all of Minnesota could see periods of snow Monday night into Tuesday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model shows the potential precipitation pattern from Sunday through Tuesday evening:
The color chart to the right of the loop refers to the precipitation rate (mm per hour), not to the total amount of rain or snow.
The GFS model shows that northern Minnesota would get the most snow from this storm track, but southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities would also see enough snow to shovel and plow.
Check forecast updates as we get closer to Sunday night and Monday.
February was cold
Our recent warm weather wasn't enough to offset the cold weather of the first half of February.
The average temperature for February at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was 4.9 degrees below normal:
January was one degree warmer than normal, and December was eight-tenths of a degree colder than normal.
Meteorological winter was colder than normal in the Twin Cities metro area.
March outlook
The March temperature outlook from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center shows equal chances of above normal, below normal and normal temps for most of Minnesota:
A slight tendency for a warmer than average March is indicated over far southeastern Minnesota.
We'll have some warm days and some cool days this month, the outlook is for the average temperature for the entire month of March.
In the Twin Cities metro area, our average high temperature rises from 34 degrees at the beginning of March to 49 degrees at the end of March.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.