We have earned it Minnesota. Another week with warm enough temps to call it a thaw. WCCO Chief Meteorologist Paul Douglas says Wednesday we could hit that magical high of 40?
“We could in fact hit 40 on Wednesday,” says Douglas. “There’s about a 72% probability that the official thermometer, very close to the runways at MSP International, could hit 40 degrees.”
Douglas adds that the coldest days of winter are likely in the rearview mirror now.
“I may regret saying this, but the worst of winter is behind us. It's been a winter that hasn’t been that bad in terms of Arctic cold,” says Douglas. “I think we’ve had 10 subzero nights. Typical winter now, the average the entire winter is 20 subzero nights. That’s the norm. By the way, that number is coming down as our winters continue to warm up.”
While there is always a chance of colder air getting to Minnesota in late February, Douglas says he doesn’t see that trend in any of the long term forecasts.
“I don’t see anything subzero looking out two weeks,” Douglas says. “Highs mostly in the 30s, a shot at 40 on Wednesday. Cools off a bit the third week of February with only 20s for highs. But still, well above zero.”
We’re up to 55 inches of snow for the winter. Douglas says we’ll still get some more however.
“Are we going to see another 55? No. Maybe another 15 or 20,” says Douglas who says March gets a fair amount of snow on average.
There is a chance of a coating to up to an inch of snow Monday late afternoon and evening. Douglas says it won’t be a big deal.
“Kind of a burst and it could be mixed with a little bit of rain, even some light icing for our friends in southern Minnesota,” Douglas said. “In the metro I think it’ll mostly be wet snow, almost a March-like snowfall later today.”
Rush hour might be a touch slower, but roadways will remain mainly being wet.
Douglas says the pattern for our weather looks mostly quiet, and if you’re sick of winter there are signs of spring starting to show up on the maps. That is especially true of daylight, with an hour and 15 minutes of sunlight being added since the Winter Solstice.
Forecast
Monday: An afternoon mix of rain and snow in the metro. High 35. A coating to an inch possible with ice to the south.
Tuesday: High 35, low 27 with breezier conditions wind NW 10-25 mph.
Wednesday: Mainly sunny and spring-like. High 39, low 21.
Thursday: Slight chance of light snow in the metro, with more to the Southeast.
High 36, low 26.
Friday: Slightly cooler. High 28, low 18.