Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

December thaw this weekend

Hola El Niño.

Our mild Pacific breeze is likely due to atmospheric teleconnections stemming from warmer water in the tropical Pacific.  El Niño appears to be taking hold of the weather pattern across North America.

ENSO US efx NOAA
NOAA

Sunny and mild pattern

Temperatures blew past 40 degrees across much of Minnesota Friday. The thermal ridge blew from western Minnesota all the way to the North Shore. A little North Shore downslope may have added a few degrees.

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Observations at 3 pm Friday via NOAA.

Mild weekend

We topped out at 39-degrees at MSP Airport Friday afternoon. Blaine hit 41. Highs in the 40s will be common across Minnesota this weekend, especially in snow-free areas.

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NOAA via Weather Bell.

Colder before Christmas 

The mild air lingers into next week. There are signs of cold fronts sailing south late next week and into Christmas week.

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NOAA

A few models are hinting at light snow around December 21-22.