Minneapolitans might need to hold off on packing away their winter gear, as unpredictable weather is set to continue in the Twin Cities and across parts of Minnesota and western Wisconsin. According to the National Weather Service, Minneapolis is staring down a barrage of murky clouds with today's temperatures hovering near a cool 40 degrees, accompanied by light southeast winds. As night falls, the mercury is expected to dip to a chilly 28 degrees, with the east wind staying its course, though losing some of its daytime gusto.
Sunday promises to tease the locals with a glimpse of the sun, fighting through partial cloud coverage to push the thermometer up to a more agreeable 46 degrees. But the brief respite is just that. The forecast ahead signals a cool down by Sunday night with lows back to around 28 under partly cloudy skies. Residents should consider themselves on notice for more than just the cool temps – fog is also likely to roll in, creating potentially dicey conditions for drivers.
Areas of patchy fog will burn off later this morning. Clouds will be abundant today but some peeks of sun are expected as we progress through the weekend. Already mild temperatures are forecast to increase towards mid-week. #mnwx #wiwx pic.twitter.com/d7ABt6Y52Y
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) February 3, 2024
The unpredictable parade of weather isn't stopping there. Monday and Tuesday churn out a mix of sun and clouds with the highs slowly climbing, reaching a peak near 53 degrees by Tuesday. However, the warmth brings with it wind once again, with south breezes picking up to 10 to 15 mph. Rain checks might be in order later in the week, as Wednesday night's forecast spells a 30% chance of rain, catapulting to a 60% likelihood by Thursday, according to the National Weather Service's latest readings.
The region has also been issued a common-place Hazardous Weather Outlook, with the potential for patchy dense fog particularly in western Minnesota, persisting into the weekend. This cloak of fog is expected to envelop central and southern parts of the state alongside our neighbor to the east, west-central Wisconsin. The National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN has advised that the foggy threat will linger through Sunday night and into Monday morning, with no immediate need for SKYWARN spotter activation.
The capricious nature of Midwest weather ensures that Minneapolis locals remain on their toes, with fluctuating temperature highs and the looming dance of rainfall as the week progresses. The variety of conditions underscores the temperamental swing of seasons, demanding constant vigilance and a readiness to adapt at a moment's notice.
