Residents of Minneapolis, brace yourselves for a rollercoaster weather week ahead, with today's sunny skies and chilly temperatures set to give way to a near-balmy weekend, according to the National Weather Service. The current frigid conditions, boasting a high near 20 degrees and wind chills dropping to as low as minus 12, will see west-northwest winds at speeds of around 15 mph, and gutsiness reaching up to 25 mph.
Tonight, Minneapolitans are looking at a mostly clear sky with low temperates hovering around 14 degrees; the winds are expected to take a southeasterly turn after midnight which should, all things being equal, kickstart a significant temperature hike, Thursday's high is anticipated to leap to around 50 degrees, and it gets breezier with south winds chiming in at 10 to 20 mph, and the potential for gusts peaking at 25 mph.
The warming trend continues with Thursday night's forecast promising clear conditions and an overnight low of about 37 degrees. In contrast, the south wind continues its blustery presence, raging at 15 to 20 mph with gusts that might soar up to 30 mph. Setting the stage for an even warmer Friday is a sunny prediction with highs reaching near 58 degrees and winds persisting from the south at around 20 mph, complemented by gusts that could hit 30 mph.
The fair weather isn't going away any time soon as Friday night also looks mostly clear with lows around 36; you've got that steady south wind at 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Saturday follows the trend mostly sunny, with temperatures cresting the wave at a snug 62 degrees and winds coming from the south at an easier pace of around 10 mph.
By Sunday, the city will see a 30 percent chance of rain post-noon amidst otherwise sunny skies and high near 69 degrees – a stark contrast to the winter bite felt just days prior but winds will be brisk, with a south-southeast blowhard at 15 to 25 mph and gusts that might whip up to 35 mph. Sunday night, as the clock strikes closer to Monday, pits the city against a 50 percent chance of rain and snow with a low around 31 and a vigorous west-southwest wind at 20 to 25 mph, and again those gusts could reach 35 mph.
As the new week rolls in, Monday stays unpredictable with alternating chances of rain and snow under partly sunny skies and a cooler high near 42 degrees, the wind not giving any respite still charging from the west-southwest at speeds of 15 to 20 mph, potentially gusting up to 30 mph. The 30 percent chance of snow lingers into Monday night as temperatures dip to a low around 24 degrees, and conclusions to this atmospheric saga may be drawn come Tuesday, where there is but a slight chance of rain and snow amidst mostly sunny conditions and highs leveling near 42 degrees, the west wind gallantly holding its ground at around 15 mph.
