Wind has relaxed. Quite mild next week

Five days of blustery northwest winds have ended. Wednesday will bring us light breezes around 10 mph or less at most locations.

Here’s a quick look at the upcoming days leading to an expected January thaw next week.

Most of Minnesota will have high temperatures in the single digits on Wednesday while low teens are likely for the southwest.

We are at what is, on average, the coldest part of our winter. The average high temperature in the Twin Cities for today is 23. Our forecast high of around 9 is colder than normal, but not particularly frigid for this time of year. And the lack of nasty wind is a relief.

Light snow likely southwest on Thursday

An Alberta clipper from the northwest will bring light snow to mainly southwestern Minnesota on Thursday. The latest forecast model runs are indicating a dusting of light snow could fall as far north as the Twin Cities.

If it’s heavy snow that you want, head for Buffalo, N.Y. Another plume of intense lake effect snow is rolling in from Lake Erie. The National Weather Service office there is saying that snowfall totals could exceed 4 feet locally by late Thursday.

Chillier arctic air behind the clipper

Colder air behind Thursday’s clipper will keep our temperatures on the chilly side through Saturday. Most high temperatures around the state and western Wisconsin will be in the single digits again as we head toward and into the weekend.

The Twin Cities will have highs in the single digits on Friday and possibly reach 10 degrees on Saturday.

Then the big warmup to a January thaw

Sunday will be a milder day with high temperatures almost up to average. Look for highs from the mid teens northeast to low 20s south.

Monday seems likely to bring highs in the 20s north and 30s south.

Beginning on Tuesday, the rest of next week could bring widespread highs in the 30s for a January thaw.