More Clouds And Fog Sunday - Warming Up This Week

It has been a very quiet start to the month of January in the Twin Cities so far. Through the first eight days of the month we have seen just a trace of snow - back on the 4th. Meanwhile, it's been the 32nd warmest start to January on record with an average temperature 7.1F degrees above average.

You can see the very small amount of precipitation that has fallen across the state so far this month on the precipitation maps. A batch of snow did move through portions of western Minnesota last Wednesday, helping to pop Sioux Falls above average so far for the month.

That band of snow brought all of the 0.8" Sioux Falls has received this month... but as you look at the upper Midwest in total the snowfall has been minuscule so far for January. Only Madison and Milwaukee have topped an inch of snow recorded so far, and Marquette is over 10" below average.

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Once again the deepest snow depth across the state is up in portions of the Arrowhead, where Mistletoe Road along the C.J. Ramstad/North Shore State Trail reported a snow depth of 18" on Thursday. Some other snow depth reports from around the state:

Find more reports from state parks and trails via the Minnesota DNR Snow Depth and Groomed Trails website. (Image above from the MNDNR)

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We have two competing schools of thought. "Snowing is an attempt of God to make the dirty world look clean" wrote author Mehmet Murat IIdan. But comedian Carl Reiner cracked "A lot of people like snow. I find it an unnecessary freezing of water."

My producer at WCCO Radio, David Josephson, routinely cross country skis 8 miles at a park on his way into the studio. It's all about winter coping skills. The best way to get through a Minnesota winter is to embrace it.

With apologies to the late Steve Jobs at Apple I may "think different" in 2 weeks. Arctic air is on the way after January 18, as waves of arctic air lap southward, each crest colder than the last. Expect 3-8 nights below zero by late January.

In the meantime a thaw arrives this week with 4 days above freezing; a fresh breeze carving out a few sunny breaks.

NOAA reports a record 22 separate billion-dollar US weather disasters in 2020. And 2020 tied 2016 for warmest year, worldwide. The last 6 years were the hottest on record for planet Earth.

Paul's Extended Twin Cities Forecast

SUNDAY: More clouds than sun. Wake up 19. High 30. Chance of precipitation 10%. Wind W 7-12 mph.

MONDAY: Partly sunny and milder. Wake up 24. High 33. Chance of precipitation 0%. Wind SW 7-12 mph.

TUESDAY: Plenty of sunshine. Not bad. Wake up 19. High 36. Chance of precipitation 0%. Wind SW 7-12 mph.

WEDNESDAY: Clouds increase, thaw likely. Wake up 25. High 39. Chance of precipitation 10%. Wind W 10-15 mph.

FRIDAY: Cold wind, coating of flurries? Wake up 23. High 26. Chance of precipitation 50%. Wind NW 10-20 mph.

SATURDAY: Chilly start, peeks of sunshine. Wake up 17. High 29. Chance of precipitation 10%. Wind S 10-15 mph.

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This Day in Weather History
January 10th

1990: A January 'heat wave' forms. MSP Airport warms to 49 degrees.

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Average Temperatures & Precipitation for Minneapolis
January 10th

Average High: 23F (Record: 52F set in 2012)
Average Low: 7F (Record: -30F set in 1886)
Average Precipitation: 0.03" (Record: 1.13" set in 1975)
Average Snowfall: 0.5" (Record: 4.0" in 1976)
Record Snow Depth: 18" in 1969

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Sunrise/Sunset Times for Minneapolis
January 10th

*Length Of Day: 9 hours, 2 minutes and 21 seconds
*Daylight GAINED Since Yesterday: ~1 minute and 30 seconds

*When Do We Climb To 9.5 Hours Of Daylight? January 25th (9 hours, 31 minutes, and 51 seconds)
*When Is The Sunrise At/Before 7:30 AM?: February 3rd (7:29 AM)
*When Is The Sunset At/After 5 PM? January 17th (5:00 PM)

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While it will be warmer on Sunday with highs reaching 30F in the Twin Cities... sky conditions for the most part will remain the same. Don't be surprised to see fog around, especially during the morning hours, but with some increased winds across the region we could clear that out during the day. The clouds will remain, however.

Another day of clouds and fog across the region is expected Sunday. Highs will be in the 20s and 30s across the state.

Over the next five days it appears highs should reach the 30s each and every day, with warmer days expected Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday as highs climb into the mid and upper 30s - 10F to 15F degrees above average. Precipitation chances remain pretty much nil through this time period.

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On Sunday we'll be watching an area of low pressure bringing storms and snow to the southern United States. A cold front in the Pacific Northwest will bring rain showers and snow at higher elevation. Some lake effect snow will be possible in portions of the Great Lakes.

Across portions of New Mexico and Texas, 3-7" of snow could fall over the next few days. The heaviest snow will be up in the Cascades, however, where 1-2 feet could fall. Closer to the Gulf Coast precipitation will remain as rain with 1-3" falling.

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More from NOAA: "It was an extraordinary year for weather and climate events in the U.S.: The nation endured an unprecedented 22 billion-dollar disasters in 2020. A record number of named tropical storms formed in the Atlantic, with a record 12 making landfall. The nation also had its most active wildfire year on record due to very dry conditions in the West and unusually warm temperatures that gripped much of the country." (Image: NOAA)

U.S. Disaster Costs Doubled in 2020, Reflecting Costs of Climate Change

More from the New York Times: "Hurricanes, wildfires and other disasters across the United States caused $95 billion in damage last year, according to new data, almost double the amount in 2019 and the third-highest losses since 2010. The new figures, reported Thursday morning by Munich Re, a company that provides insurance to other insurance companies, are the latest signal of the growing cost of climate change. They reflect a year marked by a record number of named Atlantic storms, as well as the largest wildfires ever recorded in California."

New Jersey Supreme Court Hears Insurers' Bid to Overturn a $400M Decision

More from the National Law Review: "New Jersey's highest court heard arguments Monday in the appeal of a ruling that the New Jersey Transit Corp.'s ("NJ Transit") insurers are required to insure $400 million of water damage loss caused by Hurricane Sandy. The matter stems from an insurance claim NJ Transit made after the super storm rocked the East Coast in 2012. NJ Transit claimed over $400 million in losses as a result of damage to its tracks, bridges, tunnels and power stations. In response, its tower of property insurers took the position that a $100 million flood sublimit applied to limit NJ Transit's recovery under its insurance tower, not the policy's $400 million overall limits. NJ Transit filed a coverage action in state court. The trial court granted summary judgment to NJ Transit, holding that NJ Transit was entitled to full coverage of $400 million under the tower's named windstorm coverage. The insurers appealed, again arguing that the flood sublimit applied to the claim."

Thanks for checking in and have a great day! Don't forget to follow me on Twitter (@dkayserwx) and like me on Facebook (Meteorologist D.J. Kayser).

- D.J. Kayser