Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

'Twas a foggy night before Christmas...

Warm temperatures continue all week

White Christmas history
Twin Cities white Christmas history
National Weather Service

'Twas the night before Christmas, with fog in the air,
A dreary, still evening, with mild temps to spare.
The streets were all damp, and the sky was overcast,
As low clouds hung heavy, the night moving fast…

Overnight temperatures for Christmas Eve will drop only a few degrees into the 20s, with light south winds 5 to 10 mph. As temperatures drop below freezing, there is a potential for freezing fog into early Christmas morning.

Lows for Tuesday night
Lows for Tuesday night
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Areas of dense fog continue for parts of southwestern Minnesota with dense fog advisories.

Dense fog advisory
Dense fog advisory
National Weather Service

Dreaming of a white Christmas

Mild temperatures this week will lead to plenty of melting, but a white Christmas is still likely for much of the state. This is a historical look at which years the Minneapolis-St. Paul area experienced a white Christmas:

White Christmas history
White Christmas history
National Weather Service

Temperatures on Wednesday will warm into the lower to mid-30s, with upper 20s for northwestern Minnesota.

Highs on Wednesday
Highs on Wednesday
NOAA

Rain showers in December?

The next Pacific weather system is expected to begin south of the forecast area towards the end of the week. Current temperature trends suggest that this system will bring mostly rain.

Forecast precipitation Friday morning through Sunday morning.
Forecast precipitation Friday morning through Sunday morning.
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

Rainfall totals through Saturday are expected to range from one-quarter inch to about one-half inch.

Potential rainfall amounts
Potential rainfall amounts
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

As the system gradually moves out, colder air may filter in, bringing a mix of rain and snow to the Northland.

Potential snowfall amounts
Potential snowfall amounts
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

Our temperatures continue to run 5-15 degrees above the seasonal average through the weekend with highs in the 30s and 40s.

Temperatures Wednesday through Saturday
Temperatures Wednesday through Saturday
NOAA via College of DuPage weather lab