Above-normal temps continue; light snow possible Saturday PM

I’m glad that I ventured out into the sunshine Wednesday afternoon, because clouds returned for Thursday.

Most of Minnesota had highs in the 30s on Thursday. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport tallied a high of 36 degrees, which is well above the average Dec. 28 Twin Cities high temp of 25 degrees.

Much of Minnesota will have quiet weather Thursday night, but there is a dense fog advisory until 6 a.m. Friday for portions of northwestern Minnesota:

Not much snow cover

The weekly snow depth map from the Minnesota State Climatology Office shows little or no snow cover across most of Minnesota:

The light-brown area in far northwestern Minnesota has between 1 and 2 inches of snow on the ground. The yellow-shaded area has between 2 and 4 inches of snow cover.

Saturday snow opportunity

Light snow is expected move into northwestern Minnesota Saturday morning, then spread into north-central and northeastern Minnesota during the afternoon hours. Light snow will continue in portions of northern Minnesota Saturday evening.

Central and southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin could see some periods of light snow Saturday evening and overnight Saturday night.

The light snow is expected to be out of Minnesota by daybreak on Sunday, but light snow or flurries could linger in parts of western Wisconsin Sunday morning.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale Forecast System model shows the potential precipitation pattern from 3 a.m. Saturday through 11 p.m. Saturday:

Snow amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible Saturday into Saturday evening in parts of northern Minnesota, with lower snow amounts to the south:

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR News network. 

Updated forecast info will be posted by the NWS offices in the Twin Cities, Duluth, La Crosse, Sioux Falls and Grand Forks.

Temperature trends

Friday high temperatures will be mainly in the 30s, but a few spots in southwestern Minnesota could top 40 degrees:

Saturday highs will be in the 20s in northern Minnesota, with mainly 30s elsewhere:

Sunday highs will be in the 20s in many areas, with lower 30s in the metro area, southeastern Minnesota and much of western Wisconsin:

Many locations, including the Twin Cities metro area, will top out in the lower 30s on New Year’s Day:

Weather nugget

The official Twin Cities high temperature (measured at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport) has been in the 20s just two days this December.