Rather uneventful weather for the next week

Weather patterns should leave Minnesota just about free of wintry drama for at least the next week.

Here is a quick look at what should be coming toward the Twin Cities area from Saturday into the middle of the week:

Now for some details

Saturday has begun with clear skies and cold temperatures across about the northern half of Minnesota. Eveleth on the Iron Range reported 13 below at 8 a.m. Meanwhile, a blanket of low clouds and fog built northward and covered the Twin Cities. Areas of thicker fog and light snow have been reported from St. Cloud and Hutchinson to the southwestern corner of the state.

The clouds and fog should lift and thin a bit as we go through Saturday. Look for afternoon high temperatures in the 20s with the Twin Cities reaching maybe 25. Winds will be light from the south.

Dangerous storm in the South

The storm track is unusually far to the south for early December. The result is a very dangerous storm that has been spreading large areas of heavy, flooding rain from Texas into Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. Alabama, Georgia and northwestern Florida are the next states to be targeted.

Farther north, along the colder edge of the storm, a ribbon of freezing rain is forecast for parts of Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina.

Heavy snow has been accumulating in the Texas Panhandle. Mountainous parts of Arkansas and North Carolina should get slammed with heavy snow as well.

The forecast of total precipitation for the next 7 days ending at 6 a.m. next Saturday, December 15, calls for hefty total amounts in the Southeast as well as the usual Pacific storms in the Northwest.

Quiet weather to continue for our part of the country

You will note on the above forecast map that the next week is expected to be mostly dry for Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. A couple weak disturbances might bring scatterings of light snow on Wednesday and Thursday, but nothing to get excited about.

High temperatures on Sunday should be mostly in the 20s again except for some colder teens in the northwest. Some clouds might linger.

Milder temperatures seem headed our way for the upcoming week. A general west-to-east flow should bring us highs mainly in the 20s to low 30s statewide.

Mid-December warmup looks likely

Forecast weather patterns could track mild temperatures our way for the middle of the month. There is a strong chance of warmer-than-normal temperatures across much of the country, and especially the North Central States, for the period December 15-21.