Arctic sunshine now, watching weekend snow
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Blinding sunlight. Sparkles glinting off a fresh snow pack. Bracing crisp air masses. This is how February is supposed to look and feel Minnesota.
Our fresh snow cover has redeemed the wintry look across most of Minnesota. Here's a look at the latest snow swath, 1.9 inches fell at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport with heavier totals just southwest of the Twin Cities metro.
"How full of the creative genius is the air in which these are generated!
I should hardly admire more if real stars fell
and lodged on my coat."--Henry David Thoreau, 1856
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High quality snow crystals
If you've ever wondered just how many types of snowflakes there are, it's worth a visit to snowcrystals.com.
I've spoken with North Dakota native Ken Libbrecht at Cal Tech. He's one of the world's premiere snow crystal researchers. The type of snowflakes that grow are temperature dependent. Hollow columns and ice needles? Who knew?
Here's a guide to snow crystal morphology.
Snow done, cold now
Today's air mass runs a good 10 degrees colder than average for early February as the next semi-arctic high pressure cell builds south.
Temps moderate gradually this week, and may nudge 30 degrees by the weekend. The latest model runs suggest a more northerly track to our potential weekend snow system. That could brew an icy mix for the metro trending toward some lingering snow Sunday.
This map can and will change by Friday, but latest trends lay our heavy snow in central and northern Minnesota this weekend, with the Twin Cities on the icy southern edge.
Stay tuned as storm tracks, and eventual snowfall projections shift the next few days.
Blues for a cause
One of the great things about working in media? The opportunity to help others less fortunate.
Here's an opportunity to kick up your heels and help fight cancer through Gilda's Club of the Twin Cities next week. Come out and join my friends and former WCCO-TV colleagues including The Don (Shelby) in The WCCO Blues Band at the beautifully renovated Old Log Theater near Excelsior next Tuesday evening.
We'll rock the house and help some friends. Your weatherman plays the blues? Anything for a good cause.
