Minnesota's climate has warmed since the first Earth Day

After a brief return to average warmth Thursday, cooler temperatures settle back in for the weekend. Warmer weather returns early next week, but it comes along with a rainier pattern.

Thursday also marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, and our climate has definitely changed over that time, including higher temperatures across Minnesota.

For the Twin Cities, the average annual temperature has risen 3.5 degrees since Earth Day began in 1970, from just over 44 degrees to almost 48 degrees.

(Annual temperatures are computed by averaging out the high and low temperatures throughout a year.)

To some, this may not seem like a large change, but it has a variety of impacts. For example, more precipitation may come as rain versus snow during the winter, it causes changes to our growing seasons, and can even influence what insects take hold in the state. Those are just a couple things attributable to our warming climate.

Thursday’s forecast

High pressure has cleared out most of the lingering clouds of the past few days. Almost all of Minnesota is starting off with sunshine, and sunny skies dominate the day. 

Often, clearer skies mean a chillier morning, but under a southwest wind flow, most of the state began Thursday in the 30s. This is noticeably milder than the past few mornings.
Afternoon temperatures will also be seasonable, with the majority of the state making it into the 60s. 

This is right about average for southern Minnesota and a couple degrees above average north. Winds become gustier by the afternoon, with gusts over 20 mph south, and northwestern Minnesota is likely to see gusts exceed 30 mph.

Humidities in the afternoon fall into the 20 percent range, and the combination of dry, warm, and windy weather elevates fire concerns. 

In northwestern Minnesota, humidity levels could drop into the teens, putting that area under a red flag warning from noon until 8 p.m.

Extended forecast

A cold front makes its way across Minnesota Friday, returning more clouds and light rain into the forecast. Overnight Friday, a little snow may also mix in north. Highs Friday will be in the 40s north and 50s south.

Saturday turns even chillier, southern Minnesota will struggle to get near 50, and most of the state will stay stuck in the 40s.

Next week brings a much more active weather pattern, especially the first half of the week. Sunday remains cooler, with spotty showers possible, but by Monday, highs soar back into the 50s and 60s, with a few 70s possible south.
Here is that temperatures forecast for the Twin Cities:  

That warmer weather stays in place through at least Wednesday, but so do rain chances. With a few rounds of rain likely between Sunday and Wednesday, much of Minnesota could see a half-inch to an inch of rain by the middle of next week. 

The warm and wet pattern should spur even more spring growth!

Programming note 

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.