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Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News
Paul Huttner

Subzero temperatures on the horizon?

Despite record-warm weather, Minnesota's not done with winter just yet

NOAA GFS temperature output
Global Forecast System temperature output Feb. 17-18
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Tropical Tidbits

Go Deeper.

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My good friend and MPR News colleague Tom Crann asked me this week if winter is over. I smiled that knowing smile and replied as gently as I could.

Many of us have been wondering what Tom has been wondering. March is in sight. Is it possible we can skate through this winter without any more real winter weather?

Highly unlikely.

Keep these weather facts in mind for the Twin Cities:

  • We average about another 20.7 inches of snowfall from now into April.

  • We’ve had subzero temperatures as late as March 31.

  • The forecast models now strongly suggest much colder air through next week.

So enjoy one more day of 50-degree temperatures across southern Minnesota.

Forecast high temperatures Thursday 2
Forecast high temperatures Thursday
NOAA

Friday’s cold front is the first of several that look likely to blow into Minnesota through next week.

Forecast high temperatures Friday
Forecast high temperatures Friday
NOAA

Subzero potential late next week

By late next week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model suggests subzero cold may finally edge into parts of Minnesota.

The model loop below could be a bit overdone. We will need snow cover to drop below zero in the Twin Cities. But subzero temperatures up north seem plausible by the weekend of Feb. 17-18.

NOAA GFS temperature output
Global Forecast System temperature output Feb. 17-18.
NOAA, via Tropical Tidbits

We’re not done with winter just yet. I hope we don’t pay too dearly for our warmest winter on record so far in March. Or April.

Stay tuned.