December Lite: Mild quiet weather pattern holds for now

More wintry changes ahead late next week?

Minnesota’s docile December weather pattern rolls on.

Highs Wednesday reached the 40s again across southern Minnesota.

Temperatures Wednesday afternoon 3
Temperatures Wednesday afternoon
Oklahoma Mesonet

I saw 45 in Red Wing, Winona, and Austin. The high of 43 degrees in the Twin Cities is 11 degrees warmer than the average of 32 degrees. Yes, we’ve hit the freezing point now for our average high.

Thursday brings another mild afternoon to Minnesota. Highs will again push the 40 degree-mark across southern Minnesota, with 30s north of the Twin Cities.

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Forecast high temperatures Thursday
Forecast high temperatures Thursday
NOAA

Weekend cool front

A weak cool front will slide south across Minnesota Friday.

Surface weather maps through Friday
Surface weather maps through Friday
NOAA

That puts a slight speed bump in our milder than average temperatures this weekend. Highs will linger in the 20s north and 30s south this weekend.

Midler again next week

Midleer air seeps back north again next week. Expect highs to return to the 40s again across southern Minnesota. That’s more than 10 degrees warmer than average.

Forecast high temperatures Wednesday, December 9
Forecast high temperatures Wednesday, December 9
NOAA

Some models I trust suggest highs between 45 and 48 in the Twin Cities by next Wednesday.

Colder air in sight?

I’m still seeing a colder signal emerging from the medium-range forecast noise by mid-December.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction center picks up on the notion of colder weather, favoring at least near average temperatures for mid-December.

NOAA 8 to 14-day temperature outlook
NOAA 8 to 14-day temperature outlook
NOAA

The average high and low for the Twin Cities dip to 28 and 14 by December 12.

Stay tuned.