Minneapolis residents might be reaching for slightly lighter jackets this week, as the area is expecting a mix of sun and clouds with a notable, albeit temporary, spike in the temperature. According to a forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS), temperatures will range from a high near 26 degrees today to a toasty 40 degrees by Tuesday. The South-southwest wind, sitting around 5 mph today, is anticipated to become calm as the afternoon wanes.
Temperatures will drop to around 15 tonight with calm winds. On Tuesday, skies will be partly sunny with a south wind gusting up to 25 mph, offering a brief break from the cold. The National Weather Service forecasts similar conditions on Wednesday, with partly sunny skies, highs near 38 degrees, and afternoon wind gusts up to 30 mph. By evening, rain is likely, with a 70 percent chance before 3 a.m., transitioning to a rain-and-snow mix overnight. Lows are expected around 27 degrees, with no significant snow accumulation anticipated.
Snow chances increase slightly to 40 percent on Thursday, mainly before noon. Skies will remain mostly cloudy as temperatures fall sharply late in the day, dropping to around 10 degrees by early evening. West-northwest winds of 15 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph, will add to the cold. Overnight lows are expected to plunge to around -5 degrees.
Looking ahead to the weekend, the National Weather Service calls for partly sunny skies Friday with a 20 percent chance of snow and a high near 29 degrees. Temperatures will dip to around 18 degrees on Friday night. Saturday is expected to bring similar conditions, with partly sunny skies, a high near 29 degrees, and light northwest winds before lows fall to around 4 degrees overnight.
Sunday brings a 20 percent chance of snow under mostly sunny skies, with highs near 21 degrees. Winds will be light, shifting from northwest in the morning to south by afternoon, as winter conditions continue across the region. For the most current and detailed forecast, Minneapolitans can visit the NWS website.
