Mild December so far, near-record cold likely next week

Temperatures could hit minus 15 next week

“Cold enough for you?”

You may hear that one next week, Minnesota.

So far, December temperatures are running about 2 degrees warmer than average overall in the Twin Cities. But forecast models still favor snow on Monday followed by the first subzero air mass of the season for much of Minnesota.

But how cold will it actually get, and will we set any records?

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Minus 15 at MSP?

Most forecast models still crank out lows between minus 10 and minus 20 next Wednesday morning.

Here’s the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model:

European model (ECMWF) temperature forecast for 6 am Wednesday December 11
European model (ECMWF) temperature forecast for 6 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11.
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, via pivotal weather

Records minimum temperatures for the Twin Cities next Tuesday through Thursday range from minus 14 to minus 18. The record low next Wednesday morning at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is minus 14. That day looks like it has the best chance to challenge the record low.

Record temperatures for next week in the Twin Cities
Record temperatures for next week in the Twin Cities
Minnesota Climatology Working Group

Orion glows

Wednesday I wrote about Orion dominating the southern winter sky. Judy Allen near Jackson, Minn., captured these amazing shots in the crystal clear skies Wednesday night.

I was able to see the starry smudge call the Orion Nebula with binoculars. Of course, NASA’s equipment works considerably better.

The Orion Nebula
The Orion Nebula
NASA

Very cool.