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Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News
Ron Trenda

Cooler Thursday, then a warmup

Go Deeper.

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My travels took me to Excelsior Commons park today:

rt224comm

Looking north from the beach, only a couple of fish houses were visible on that portion of Lake Minnetonka:

rt224comm2

In 2015 we saw the warmest average temperature for the month of December ever recorded for the entire state of Minnesota, based on data going back to 1895. Because of the warm start to winter, ice was late to form on most Minnesota lakes, and our ice fishing season was very short.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources advises that fish houses, portables and dark houses have to be removed from many Minnesota lakes in less than two weeks. Complete details are at: MN DNR. The removal deadline is the end of the day on Monday, March 7 for about the southern two thirds of Minnesota.

A big warmup is coming

High temperatures on Thursday will be very typical for late March:

rt225h

Some light snow is possible late tonight and Thursday morning over southwestern Minnesota.

Warmer highs are on tap for Friday:

rt226h

Our high temperatures really take off on Saturday, to near record levels in some spots:

rt22728wx

Highs could hit the lower 40s as far north as Duluth on Saturday.

It has been a strange winter!