The city of Minneapolis is bracing for a series of snow events and a plunge into biting cold this week. Snowfall is expected to be light with less than half an inch of accumulation today, mainly before 11:00 a.m., with temperatures hovering near the 30-degree mark despite blustery winds, reports the forecast.
As the week progresses, Minneapolis residents can anticipate additional snow chances, particularly on Wednesday and Wednesday nights. The Hazardous Weather Outlook notes that, while any lingering snow will taper off this morning, the coming days will not see much respite, with periodic flurries and cloudy skies dominating the forecast.
Tonight, the mercury is expected to drop to around 20 degrees with mostly cloudy skies and continued north-northwest winds. The outlook for Wednesday shows a 50 percent chance of snow after noon, with temperatures peaking at a near 28 degrees before falling to 17 degrees at night, accompanied by the light likelihood of snow before midnight.
However, aspirations for a warm reprieve will be dashed as a much colder airmass is set to sweep through Minneapolis later in the week. Temperatures are predicted to plummet to single digits and further to sub-zero lows by the weekend, according to the forecast. Starting Saturday night, "wind chills will drop into the 20s and 30s below zero," warns the National Weather Service. Such conditions pose not just discomfort, but a stark challenge to the city's denizens and the infrastructure creaking under the weight of winter's full force.
Approaching Martin Luther King Day, the forecast predicts partly sunny skies with a high near 2 degrees, and gusting west winds. Residents are urged to prepare for the harsh conditions by dressing warmly and minimizing time outside during peak wind chill periods. Additionally, the National Weather Service encourages spotters and snowfall observers to report snow accumulations directly to their offices to aid in providing accurate updates.
