The streets of Minneapolis are bracing for a cold snap, as the National Weather Service in the Twin Cities forecasts a 50% chance of snow starting this afternoon and a frigid plunge with wind chills reaching well into the negatives by Friday morning. According to the weather advisory, the city is expected to see less than a half-inch of snow today, but the real chill is set to arrive with nighttime lows around -3 and wind chill values down to a bone-chilling -16.
Residents should bundle up even tighter for Friday, as forecasts predict that "wind chill values as low as -15" could be commonplace, while the upcoming weekend promises some respite with slightly higher temps, according to the National Weather Service. Albeit sunny conditions are on the horizon for Saturday; the cold is not loosening its grip much, Nighttime will see temperatures nose-diving to -7 degrees paired with persistent northwest winds providing little relief, as they keep the chill factors on their frosty edge.
The chill factor swings upward slightly on Sunday, with temperatures projected to hover around 19 degrees during the day, yet gusty south winds could magnify the cold perception and nighttime lows are expected to balance out at about 17 degrees. A brief warming trend is forecasted to begin heading into the new workweek, with Monday seeing highs near 31 and Tuesday teasing a milder 37 degrees, though there's still "a slight chance of rain and snow," according to the same source.
Amidst the snowy outlook and the plunging mercury levels, the National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook, warning of "light snow likely south of I-94 today" with potential accumulations ranging from an inch to two across certain areas, so as the city pulls its coat tighter and faster, citizens take heed, for the bite of winter is yet to relent—the brisk air reminds us all that the Midwest remains firmly within winter's grasp.
