A shot at 50 degrees Thursday; record January thaw continues

Welcome to Day 4 of our second January thaw in 2025.

Here’s a look at Twin Cities high temperatures so far this week:

• Sunday, 35 degrees

• Monday, 38 degrees

• Tuesday, 47 degrees (ties record from 1892)

• Wednesday, 38 degrees (so far as of this post time Wednesday afternoon)

Thursday will bring the warmest day of this month across much of Minnesota. High temperatures will rise into the 50s once again across southern Minnesota. And parts of the Twin Cities could hit 50 degrees Thursday afternoon.

The record high at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Thursday is 48 degrees, last set in 1989. We have a shot to tie or break that record.

Temperatures Thursday will be about 25 degrees warmer than normal across much of Minnesota. For context, the normal high in the Twin Cities on Thursday is 24 degrees.

Friday brings cooler breezes but temperatures will still run well above normal across central and southern Minnesota.

Weekend snow chances

American and Canadian forecast models still put the Twin Cities on the southern edge of possible snowfall Saturday. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model keeps most of the snow north of the Twin Cities.

The map below shows the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model output for this weekend. At least it’s been consistent the past few days.

Northern Minnesota has a better chance for decent snowfall accumulations. The North Shore looks likely to see snowfall totals that could reach or exceed 6 inches:

Confidence is lower we’ll see accumulating snow as far south as the Twin Cities. Stay tuned as we watch the system progress over the next couple of days.