Northern Minnesota is under a new alert until Friday at 7 p.m.

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

“Spring is nature's way of saying, ‘Let's party!’” — Robin Williams

The path leading into the spring season at this latitude typically takes two steps forward, then one bracing step back. But in the end we gradually crawl toward something resembling the start of the warm season in Minnesota. 

Some years we can whiplash from snow to 80 degrees in a few days. I’m talking about you, April 2023. We awoke to 6 inches of snow on the ground in the Twin Cities on April 2, 2023. Then we basked in four straight days of highs in the 80s from April 11-14, peaking at 88 degrees on April 12 that year.

This week features gradually milder temperatures. At the end of this of this path, we may actually hit a lukewarm 70 degrees in or just west of the Twin Cities by Sunday afternoon. 

Highs Tuesday will be about 10 degrees milder than Monday. Highs will be near 50 in the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota. Baby steps, people.

Our weather speed bump this week arrives Wednesday and Thursday. Scattered, mainly light rain showers will cross southern Minnesota with scattered snow showers in the north.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model shows the trends between 7 a.m. Wednesday and 7 p.m. Thursday:

Highs Wednesday will range from the 60s southwest to 30s northeast.  

Looks like I’ll be putting out the deck furniture at the Weather Lab this week. Bright April sunshine will feel increasingly warm starting on Friday. Highs will reach the 60s south with 50s north Friday and Saturday.  

Sunday brings the mildest day with highs in the 70s from the Twin Cities west.

If you've been following the DOGE cuts at NOAA, you might be interested in this program that aired Monday from 

NOAA’s outlooks favor warmer-than-normal temperatures next week:

Like all Minnesota springs, we’ve earned it.

Paul Huttner

Author

Gradually milder temperatures this week. Temperatures could hit 70 degrees this weekend, especially west of the Twin Cities.

Gradually milder temperatures this week. Temperatures could hit 70 degrees this weekend especially west of the Twin Cities.

Increasingly springy: A shot at 70 degrees by Sunday

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA

NOAA GFS model between 7 a.m. Wednesday and 7 p.m. Thursday.

Increasingly springy: A shot at 70 degrees by Sunday

Go Deeper.

Like this?