Minneapolis residents might want to bundle up tight, as the forecast suggests braving more than just a chill in the coming days, according to the National Weather Service. Today's weather offers a slight possibility of snow in the a.m., but promises no respite from the cold, with temperatures hovering around a high of 23 degrees and northerly winds pushing 10 to 15 mph. The evening might see the snow chances beef up to 50 percent, primarily from 9 pm to the early morning hours, and while accumulation is expected to be minimal, the plummeting temperatures down to a low near 4 degrees — with a wind chill pushing past discomfort to a biting -10 — will likely have Minneapolitans longing for the warmth of summer nights now distant memories.
The outlook for Sunday does not fare much better, with a partly sunny sky incapable of chasing away the frost, as highs barely rise to 8 degrees amid persistent wind chill conditions that could make it feel as cold as -13; the gusts of wind, though slightly less fierce, will continue to whip at 10 to 15 mph from the northwest, as reported by National Weather Service predictions. Sunday's night sky may be mostly clear, however, the cold will be all the more intense dropping to -12 degrees, and with wind chill calculations taking it down to a frostbitten -28, weathering the night could be daunting.
Washington's Birthday greets Minnesotans with sunshine amidst the stark cold, and while it may be a day of celebration for some, temperatures remain unforgiving as the high is projected to be a chilling -1 degree with the northwest winds offering little to no warmth. The following night reiterates the frosty pattern, descending even further to a low of -17 degrees, as the unabating northwest breeze continues at a pace of 5 to 10 mph. It's days that underline the harsh realities of a Minneapolis winter, with each forecast reminding us of nature's capacity to command our respect through sheer power.
Hope for a slight moderation in the deep freeze arises with the forecast for Tuesday, where the sun is expected to shine on a high near 3 degrees, yet the northwest winds persist in reminding residents of the season's strength. Tuesday night will not stray from these established patterns, with mostly cloudy skies and a predicted low of -12 degrees, the west-northwest wind maintaining its 5 to 10 mph tempo into Wednesday. With Wednesday's daytime high near 4 degrees and another cold night at -6, each step outside remains a gathering of courage to face the airs that await. Thursday and Friday offer some semblance of a thaw with highs inching up to 13 and then 18 degrees, yet one must take note that even these modest peaks are beneath the freeze, and the evening still commands an earnest respect with lows tipping back into the negatives albeit less severe than earlier days, tending to the cycle of cold that envelopes the city.
