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Warm front: Huge temperature contrast across Minnesota Wednesday

Highs may reach 80 degrees in southern Minnesota Wednesday afternoon; Still wintry by the lake

They say all weather is local. We’re about to be reminded of those wise weather words across Minnesota Wednesday.

A powerful warm front sets up across Minnesota Wednesday afternoon. It will feel like July along Interstate 90 in southern Minnesota. It will seem more like February along the North Shore.

80 south, 30s north

Southern Minnesota basks in summerlike warmth Wednesday afternoon. Highs approach the 80-degree mark along I-90 in Minnesota towns like Worthington, Fairmont, and as far north as St. James.

But check out northeast Minnesota. Highs Wednesday hover in the upper 30s as winds still blow off a frigid Lake Superior.

High temperature forecast Wednesday
High temperature forecast Wednesday
NOAA

Frigid Lake Superior

Lake Superior water temperatures still hover in the 30s this time of year. Any winds off the big lake keep temperatures chilly near shore.

Lake Superior water temperature
Lake Superior water temperatures Tuesday
NOAA via Michigan State University

Twin Cities: High near 70

Wednesday’s warm front will set up right over the Twin Cities. That means most of us may see highs in the 60s, with temperatures near 70 favoring the southwest metro area.

We cool down a few degrees through the weekend, but temperatures remain more like spring than late winter.

Temperature forecast for Twin Cities area
Temperature forecast for Twin Cities area
NOAA via Weather Bell

Lyrid meteor shower

Clouds will linger across central Minnesota tonight. The best viewing for Tuesday night’s Lyrid meteor shower favors northeast and southwest Minnesota. You could see up to 20 meteors per hour in the hours between midnight and 5 am. There’s no real moon tonight, so viewing will be good in cloud-free areas!