By 9 a.m. CDT Friday, March 20, Minneapolis was clear and sitting around 48°F, a far cry from the chill earlier this month. Expect a partly sunny afternoon with a high near 62°F and light north-northwest winds of 5–10 mph, setting up an unusually mild mid-March day. Tonight turns mostly cloudy with a low near 42°F and a chance for patchy to locally dense fog to form before dawn.
Saturday Warm-Up And Record Watch
Saturday, March 21, is the headliner in this stretch, with highs forecast near 76°F and a few southern metro spots possibly nudging into the upper 70s. That would put many neighborhoods several degrees above normal and right on the doorstep of the March 21 record for MSP (76°F, set in 1938). According to the National Weather Service, this push of warm air is unusually strong for late March, so if you are planning outdoor time, Saturday afternoon is your best bet.
Tonight And The Morning Commute
Winds pivot to the east tonight as clouds thicken, and patchy to locally dense fog may develop late tonight into Saturday morning, especially near low spots, ponds, or areas with lingering snowmelt. Early drivers should build in extra time and slow down wherever visibility drops below a quarter mile. There are no watches or warnings in effect for the Twin Cities right now, but that could change quickly overnight.
Sunday And Next Week
Sunday, March 22, brings a sharp cooldown, with a high near 46°F and a slight chance of light rain before 7 a.m. Skies stay mostly cloudy, with north winds around 10 mph, adding to the cooler feel. Sunday night looks colder, with lows near 30°F, so campers and early-season gardeners should be ready for a freeze. The rest of next week stays relatively quiet, with only small chances for light rain on Tuesday and again from Wednesday night into Thursday.
Quick Context
This quick jump from early-month freezing drizzle to near-70s in about two weeks is part of a fast-moving spring transition. Our earlier coverage dug into that thaw and its local impacts, from slick bridges to commute tips. Keep checking updated forecasts before locking in any big outdoor plans.
