Minneapolis is bracing for a series of wintry blasts, with forecasters predicting an onslaught of snow over the coming days. Today's sunny skies are deceptive, with temperatures peaking at a chilly 20 degrees and winds reaching up to 25 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Tonight's forecast suggests increasing clouds and a modest dip to 9 degrees, as the northwest wind calms and takes a variable direction after midnight.
The real shift comes on Thursday, with snow expected mainly after noon and highs teetering near 33 degrees. The chance of precipitation stands firmly at 80%, with newly fallen snow likely to stack less than one inch in depth. Thursday will also usher in wind changes, starting at a gentle 5 to 10 mph from the south, then intensifying to 10 to 15 mph as it swings from the southwest to west-northwest come evening, as per the NWS.
Friday offers little relief, as snow is expected before noon and temperatures are set to drop sharply, reaching around 15 degrees by late afternoon. The onset of blustery northwest winds at 15 to 20 mph, with gusts reaching up to 30 mph, brings a 70% chance of additional snowfall, though totals are expected to remain under half an inch. Snow chances decrease to 30% before midnight Friday night, with mostly cloudy skies and temperatures dipping to around 4 degrees.
By Saturday, cloud cover persists as temperatures plunge, with highs barely reaching 7 degrees. Northwest winds remain unrelenting at 10 to 15 mph, and Saturday night dives deeper into the deep freeze with lows around −4 degrees. Sunday brings a slight 20 percent chance of snow under partly sunny skies and a more forgiving high near 13 degrees.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day follows suit, with partly sunny conditions, brisk northwest winds, and chilly highs near 11 degrees. By Monday night, temperatures are expected to drop again to around −2 degrees, as reported by the NWS. As locals look ahead to Tuesday, they're met with a continued pattern of partly sunny days, as highs sit stubbornly near 11 degrees and west winds maintain a moderate 5 to 10 mph breeze.
