“Yeah it’s cold, but at least it keeps the riffraff out.” That’s debatable because I got in, so lower your expectations.
The coldest weather in seven years may be on tap with temperatures near 20 below Friday and Saturday mornings. The immediate metro may not get quite that cold (urban heat island) but outer suburbs? Yes. Polar-expedition levels of cold.
MSP data shows 10 nights colder than 20 below since 2000. In the previous 25-year period of 1975 to 2000, we enjoyed 48 nights of 20 below or colder. That should make me feel better but it does not.
You could make an argument that Minnesota is getting the better end of this cold wave. A historic snow and ice storm is expected over much of the southern U.S. this weekend. Dallas and Atlanta may pick up an inch of glaze ice. One-half to 1 inch of freezing rain can topple power lines and bring down the grid.
An inch of powder may fall today with more snowy chances at the end of January.
Despite a slight “warm-up” (teens, maybe a few 20s), the snow that’s on the ground should stick around.
