Regional Weather View

A mild weather pattern has overtaken the Upper Midwest for the remainder of the week. A low pressure system will arrive from the south spreading in warmth and rain across Eastern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. Most of the snow pack which covers at least 95% of the region will be melting and retreating north this week. Another storm system riding behind the one which will produce rain will bring snow accumulations to Northwestern Minnesota on Saturday and Sunday. This storms cold front will sweep east bringing an abrupt end to the warmth across the area, and bringing in more seasonable temps.

Local and Metro views.

We will have one more sunny day Wednesday with mild temperatures in the middle to upper 30s, before clouds increase ahead of the next weather system arriving Thursday. Light rain and drizzle will spread northward from Iowa much of the day Thursday, temperatures will warm well into the upper 30s with the potential of a 40 degree reading or two, so ice will not be a problem. Lows Thursday Night will not even fall below freezing, and we can expect light drizzle to continue through the night. Most of Friday be much of the same, with drizzle and clouds and warm temperatures in the Upper 30s. A cold front will sweep through late Friday, winds will turn WNW and bring in much colder temperatures, and for a time drizzle may turn to freezing drizzle and light snow as colder air arrives. By the time the thaw is done late Friday most of the snowcover, which at last estimate was about 5 inches  currently in our area will be melted. Saturday will be colder with breezy west winds. Light snow or flurries will be a possibility, accumulations will be light, under a half inch. The biggest story Saturday will be colder temperatures which will be in the mid 20s. Lows will fall to the single digits. Expect the chance of snow to end by Saturday Night. Sunday will be even colder, with highs only expected in the middle to upper 10s. with a chilly northwest wind. Skies will be partly sunny. Sunday Night will be clear with lows falling into the lower single digits, to possible below zero.

Wednesday, Sunny, mild, breezy west winds. Highs in the mid to upper 30s. Wednesday Night, Clear skies, lows in the middle 20s. Increasing clouds late.

Thursday, Warm, Cloudy with drizzle and light rain developing. Highs in the upper 30s to lower 40s. Thursday Night, Drizzle and light rain. Lows in the lower to middle 30s.

Friday,  Warm, Cloudy with drizzle at times. Highs in the upper 30s to lower 40s. Rainfall amounts 0.10-0.25″ Friday Night, Turning breezy and cooler, Drizzle turning to light flurries. Little snowfall accumulation. Lows in the upper 20s

Saturday, Much Colder and breezy, Cloudy with a chance of light snow. West winds gusting to 20MPH. little to no snow accumulation. Saturday Night, Cloudy skies. Cool with lows in the low to mid single digits.

Sunday, Cool, Partly Sunny with highs in the mid to upper 10s. Sunday Night, Clear Skies, Lows in the low to mid single digits.

Looking Ahead

Next week will be cool and dry, Temperatures will likely be in the 10s to 20s. There will be a chance of light snow on Wednesday and Thursday the 16th and 17th with a couple weak clipper systems that will bring down a cool shot of air for the end of the week. We will have another chance of light snow on Saturday the 19th as warm air pushes east. After Sunday the 20th the are un reliable. Currently they show a shift in the pattern with a chance of a snowstorm for the 24th across Iowa, Minnesota and Wednesday Wisconsin with a strong shot of arctic air, but the models have been back in forth with this so I am not very confident in this occurring yet.