Minneapolis is squeezing in one more mild day before winter snaps back. Under clear skies, highs are expected to reach around 47°F today, Friday, February 27, 2026, before a sharp cold front barrels through overnight, switching in a hurry to much colder air and a narrow band of light snow Saturday morning.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
West-southwest winds will crank up this afternoon, with sustained speeds around 5 to 20 mph and gusts that could reach 30 mph, enough to rattle loose patio chairs and make those bridge walks feel extra blustery. The windiest stretch should ease after sunset as the front moves through, but pockets of gusty wind are still likely during the evening commute. Drivers are urged to allow extra time and watch for drifting on open stretches, according to the National Weather Service Twin Cities.
Saturday Snow Mainly South of I-94
A narrow, front-parallel band of light snow is expected to set up Saturday morning, with the heaviest bursts most likely south of I-94, roughly from the Mankato area southeastward. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Blue Earth, Brown, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Steele and Waseca counties from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, February 28, 2026. Brief heavy bursts, locally up to an inch per hour, are possible within the advisory corridor, while most of the Twin Cities metro should see less than a half-inch. If you are heading along southern routes Saturday morning, plan for slower travel and check conditions, per the National Weather Service Twin Cities.
Timing and What To Do
Behind the front, temperatures tumble, with lows near 15°F Saturday morning and an afternoon high only near 22°F. It will feel like a sharp snap back to reality before a gradual warmup early next week. Road crews will be out on the highways, but those quick-hitting snow bands can still create slick, localized trouble spots, so keep an ice scraper and extra layers in the car and give yourself some cushion on travel times. This updates our earlier coverage; for broader context, see our earlier weather whiplash forecast.
