Windy With Light Snow Chances Thursday

We are tracking two snow chances across the state as we head into Thursday.

The heaviest snow through Thursday will be possible across southeastern Minnesota - again, with the potential of up to 2" mainly south/east of La Crosse and Preston if the storm can move a little farther northwestward. With the cold frontal band of snow, potentially up to half an inch (with isolated 1" amounts) will fall.

Winds will increase on Thursday across the state, with wind gusts over 40 mph possible in parts of western Minnesota and above 30 mph elsewhere. Due to these strong winds, some blowing snow could cause reduced visibility.

So we'll keep an eye on those light snow chances as we head through the day across the state. Skies to begin the day will be cloudy, but skies will start to clear in the afternoon hours in northern Minnesota behind the cold front, reaching southern Minnesota by the evening hours. Temperatures will be in the 20s and 30s.

That band of light snow looks to move through the metro in the midday/early afternoon hours, with some blowing snow possible around and after that moves through. Otherwise, mainly cloudy conditions are expected. Morning temperatures start off in the mid-20s with highs climbing to the mid-30s. As mentioned above, winds will be on the increase out of the northwest during the day, which will make it feel more like 20F during the afternoon hours.

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After we get through those snow chances Thursday, we'll see quieter weather move in for the weekend. Cooler conditions are expected behind the cold front Friday as highs only reach the low/mid-20s under sunny skies. Sunny skies continue on Saturday with the mid-30s returning. The mid-30s will stick around Sunday, but we'll likely see more clouds than sunshine.

Whatever your feelings are for Valentine's Day, we will be watching the potential of a system that could start to impact the region Tuesday Night into the middle of next week. That could start to bring in the potential of rain or snow showers into the metro as you head out for dinner. However, there are some timing differences in the models, with some not bringing it in until closer to Wednesday morning. Temperatures will be in the low to mid-30s during the late afternoon and early evening hours.

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Amazingly Quiet For Early February
By Paul Douglas

Here in the Land of 10,000 Weather Disappointments 40s in early February are kind of a big deal. Winter got off to such an impressive start: 55" - an entire winter's worth of snow by mid January, and 6 subzero nights in a row before Christmas. Some of us thought this would hang on into March. Nope.

The same persistent Pacific flow that has battered California with flooding rains and extreme mountain snows (a Godsend for drought) has kept us relatively mild and storm-free in recent weeks.

Today's storm dumps 10" of snow on the Wisconsin Dells but I see no drama close to home anytime soon. We cool off Friday (mid 20s) before another extended thaw from Saturday into most of next week. 30s and a few 40s? If you insist. Colder air returns by late February, but spring fever may come early this year.

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Paul's Extended Twin Cities Forecast

THURSDAY: Few flurries, gusty. Wake up 26. High 34. Chance of precipitation 40%. Wind NW 15-30 mph.

FRIDAY: Sunny and seasonably chilly. Wake up 13. High 26. Chance of precipitation 0%. Wind NW 8-13 mph.

SUNDAY: More clouds, mild for February. Wake up 24. High 41. Chance of precipitation 10%. Wind SW 5-10 mph.

MONDAY: Partly sunny and pleasant. Wake up 27. High 38. Chance of precipitation 0%. Wind W 8-13 mph.

TUESDAY: Some sun, hints of March in the air. Wake up 30. High 42. Chance of precipitation 10%. Wind S 7-12 mph.

WEDNESDAY: Light rain-snow mix possible. Wake up 30. High 36. Chance of precipitation 50%. Wind N 10-20 mph.

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*Length Of Day: 10 hours, 9 minutes, and 32 seconds
*Daylight GAINED Since Yesterday: 2 minutes and 47 seconds

*When do we see 11 Hours of Daylight?: February 27th (11 hours, 2 minutes, 59 seconds)
*When is Sunrise at/before 7:00 AM?: February 24th (6:59 AM)
*When is Sunset at/after 6:00 PM?: March 1st (6:00 PM)

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This Day in Weather History
February 9th

1899: The mercury plummets to -59 at Leech Lake Dam.

We'll be tracking a system moving into the Great Lakes on Thursday, producing inclement weather across much of the eastern half of the country. That'll include snow and ice from the Northern Plains to the Northeast and strong storms in the Deep South. A new front approaching the West Coast will bring showers and higher-elevation snow to the Pacific Northwest.

The heaviest rain over the next few days will fall from northeastern Texas to the mid-Mississippi Valley, where 2-5" of rain could fall that'll lead to flooding issues. 6" of snow could fall across parts of southern Wisconsin. Up to a foot of snow could fall in the Cascades.

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America, meet Biden's climate bill

More from E&E News: "President Joe Biden began a two-year tour to sell the climate bill Tuesday night. His first stop was the Capitol. Biden, the first U.S. president who can rightfully claim a massive legislative victory to combat climate change, used his State of the Union address to launch a likely reelection campaign that will feature remarkable changes to the nation's energy and transportation systems stemming from the Inflation Reduction Act and its $370 billion in climate spending. ... Biden will take his climate message on the road for the next two years in the lead-up to the 2024 election. The tour continues Wednesday when Biden travels to a Laborers' International Union of North America training center near Madison, Wis., to tout an expanded solar battery manufacturing facility and explain how his economic and climate agenda is creating jobs."

More from CNN: "Glaciers around the world are melting at an alarming rate, and are leaving massive pools of water in their wake. The meltwater fills the depression left behind by the glacier, forming what's known as a glacial lake. As temperatures get warmer and more pieces of the glacier melt away, the lake rises — and living downstream from one could be incredibly dangerous. If the lake rises too high or the surrounding land or ice gives way, the lake could burst, sending water and debris rushing down mountains. This phenomenon is called a glacial lake outburst, and according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, the roughly 15 million people around the globe that live within 30 miles of a glacial lake are at risk. More than half of them are concentrated in just four countries — India, Pakistan, Peru and China. It's the first study that looks specifically at the potential impact of glacial lake outbursts, which experts say cannot be overstated."

Minnesota power co-op wants to invest in flexibility for fossil fuel peaker plant

More from Energy News Network: "Minnesota's largest electricity cooperative wants the option to burn diesel fuel oil at a central Minnesota peaker plant as a hedge against volatile natural gas prices. Great River Energy is seeking approval from Minnesota regulators to install fuel oil equipment at its 170-megawatt Cambridge peaker plant, which now burns only natural gas. The generation and transmission co-op supplies power to 28 member cooperatives in the Upper Midwest. Several environmental groups are opposing the plan, which would increase air pollution in an area that includes several homes, a planned regional medical center, and an elementary school serving students in special education."

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- D.J. Kayser