Regional View
A huge turn around is in the cards for the Upper Midwest. Instead of dodging snowstorms, a very mild air mass is heading towards the Upper Midwest this week. Starting Monday highs will be in the 40s and 50s region wide, with highs approaching the 50s as far north as Minnesota and Wisconsin by Wednesday. The only precip that will be found will be on Tuesday with a chance of rain showers south and snow showers here or there. River flooding is expected to increase region wide this week from a melting snow pack brought on by the warmth.
Local View.
Locally the big story is the very mild and long lasting spring-like air mass that is about to move in. This warm up with start with highs in the 40s on Monday, but as early as Wednesday highs topping the 50s will be possible. Our big warm up starts Monday, I expect sunny skies, and with the sun, highs it will reach the low 40s. With lows only falling into the upper 20s. Tuesday will be even warmer as a warm front approaches, Highs will be in the mid 40s. It will be partly sunny at first, with a chance of light rain showers increasing in the afternoon. Lows Tuesday Night will not even fall below 30.F. Then Wednesday comes the warmest of the next 3, dry conditions with clearing skies will allow for a very nice day. Under sunny skies, I expect highs in the lower 50s Wednesday, with even the chance of a few middle 50s if we can get full sun all day! This will set the stage for very mild nights in the upper 30s to low 40s, This will likely be our first night above 32.F of the year.
Snow melt Expected.
I expect a significant decrease in the area snowpack with this warm up. I believe over half of the the snowpack covering the area will melt with this warm up, because most of the areas snowpack has at least 3 inches of water content, a few minor flooding issues may arise over the next 3 days. Minor issues such as ditch flooding and yard flooding will occur. Ice clogged storm drains may also cause temporary street flooding. River flooding may become an issue in the days/weeks following this, For the latest information of River flood forecast please visit the NWS link here.
Monday, Sunshine with light winds. Highs in the low 40s. Monday Night, Increasing clouds, lows in the upper 20s.
Tuesday, Partly sunny with a chance of a few light rain showers in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 40s Tuesday Night, a chance of rain showers early, then clearing. Lows in the low 30s.
Wednesday, Very Nice! Sunny with light winds and highs in the low to mid 50s. Wednesday night, very mild, increasing clouds with lows in the low 40s to upper 30s.
Looking Ahead
The long range models show the very mild airmass continuing right into Thursday, 50s for highs may happen once again. Then early Friday morning a cold front goes through bringing rain showers, with cooler, but not cold air behind it. A system brings mild air back with it by Sunday 20th, It shows that rain is possible, potentially heavy rain by the looks of this model. Thunderstorms also look possible, with a cold front on the back side of the system bringing cooler air with snow showers by Monday the 21st. Then it appears like we stay in a bit and drier cooler pattern for the rest of that week through Friday. Then by Saturday the models try to put the treat of a snowstorm just to the local areas south. While at the same time mild air builds back out west and appears like it could move east.