Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Widespread freeze ends growing season in most of southern Minnesota

Highs Wednesday return to the 60s across much of Minnesota

Low temperatures Tuesday
Low temperatures Tuesday morning
Twin Cities National Weather Service office

The 2024 growing season has ended for most of southern Minnesota. The map above shows temperatures fell into the 20s across most of our region on Tuesday morning.

But the inner core of the Twin Cities escaped freezing temperatures due to the urban heat island. The temperature fell to 35 degrees at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and stayed just above the freezing mark at most locations inside the Interstate 494-Interstate 694 freeway loop.

Because most areas have already seen freezing temperatures this week the Twin Cities National Weather Service office will no longer issue frost and freeze warnings for our region this fall.

We endure one more freezing morning on Wednesday. Temperatures may once again hover just above the freezing point in the inner Twin Cities core, but lows in the 20s and low 30s will be common around southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Low temperatures Wednesday morning
Low temperatures Wednesday morning
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The average date for the first 32-degree temperature in fall at MSP Airport is Oct. 18, and the latest date for the first freezing temperature occurred on Nov. 18 in 2016.

Warming trend begins

Get ready for another warming trend as the week rolls on. Gusty southerly winds will pump in milder air the rest of this week. Highs Wednesday will return to the 60s across much of Minnesota.

Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
NOAA

By Friday we’ll see highs in the 70s once again.

Forecast high temperatures Friday
Forecast high temperatures Friday
NOAA

Right now, the weekend looks pleasant with highs in the 60s north to 70s south.

Your annual flowers may survive another week if you’ve covered them this week.