Late January warm spell

Heading into the last week of January, temperatures will warm into the 30s, 40s and possibly 50s. By the end of the month, Minnesota will be gaining more than 2.5 minutes of sunlight each day.

Springlike temperatures

Temperatures more typical of early to mid-March, rather than late January, will make their way in for the final week of the month, eradicating any remaining snow. Our weather pattern will shift to more of a west-east flow, bringing warmer Pacific air to the region.

Expect high temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above our seasonal average this week.

Wednesday will be our coldest day this week, with highs dropping back to the lower to mid-30s. If Wednesday’s high stays above 32 degrees, our January thaw could continue, setting up a multiday streak.

Some 50-degree temperatures will start to peek into southwestern Minnesota on Thursday, marked by yellow hues on the map below.

January blues

If it feels like January 74th, you’re not alone. January can feel like one of the longest months, maybe due to the cold, the lack of sunlight or the post-holidays slump.

But don’t worry, here are some happy facts that might lift your spirits!

• We've made it past the two coldest weeks of the year! Climatologically speaking, Jan. 14- 24 are the coldest days in Minnesota. During this stretch, the seasonal high typically bottoms out around 23 degrees, with lows dipping to 8.

  

• By the end of January, we’ll be gaining more than 2.5 minutes of sunlight each day! On Jan. 31, the sun will rise around 7:33 a.m. and set at 5:20 p.m., continuing our nice shift toward longer days. By the end of February, we’ll see sunset times around 6 p.m.!