Sun will come out, but not until 2008

It's been the snowiest December in seven years in the metro area, and we're moving toward the 10th snowiest December on record.

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: December 28, 2007 - 9:00 AM

It's been the snowiest December in seven years and it's about to get a tad whiter, the National Weather Service said.

A low pressure system sliding off to the south and east of the Twin Cities will bring up to an inch of snow here today, and as much 2 to 3 inches in southeastern Minnesota and heavier amounts in central and eastern Wisconsin, the Weather Service said.

Any accumulation in the Twin Cities today will push us close to the 10th snowiest December of all time.

We've had 17.5 inches of snow in the Twin Cities this month, according to the Minnesota State Climatology office, meaning we need another 1.7 inches to equal the 19.2 inches that fell in December 1909, which places 10th on the list of snowiest Decembers.

For the record, the snowiest December occurred in 1969 when 33.2 inches of snow fell, followed by December 2000 when 30.2 inches piled up, the climatology office records show.

While no major snow events are in sight, another 1 to 2 inches could fall on New Year's Eve and into New Year's Day, the Weather Service said. It also will be cold Monday night and Tuesday, with a low Monday night of 8 degrees and a low on Tuesday night near 0.

Along with a chance of snow today, the high temperature will be 25 degrees with a low of 17. Clouds will hang around Saturday through Monday, but the sun will come out Tuesday.

The new year will get off to a quiet start with sunny skies Tuesday through Thursday and highs in the teens and 20s, the Weather Service said.

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