Winds set to blow better air into Minnesota
Close to 40 by Sunday and Monday in southern Minnesota
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Poor air quality remains through Wednesday as well as areas of fog. Temperatures will be mild, in the 30s and 20s under cloudy skies. Colder air drops temperatures into the teens and single digits Wednesday night.
Freezing rain, drizzle left an icy coating
Many areas saw a light, icy coating overnight Tuesday night. Most places measured under one-tenth of an inch, but that’s enough on untreated surface to be treacherous.
A broad area of a wintry mix of snow showers and freezing rain moved across the state from about 10 p.m. Tuesday through 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Temperatures will be near or slightly above freezing by the noon hour or early afternoon which will drastically improve conditions along with salt.
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Visibility, air quality improve into Thursday
After several days of fog and smog, things will improve drastically Wednesday night into Thursday.
Here’s a look at the air quality sensor at Harding High School in St. Paul:
Wednesday marks the fifth day of elevated air pollution in the lower atmosphere and second day of very unhealthy conditions.
An air quality alert remains in place through 6 p.m. Wednesday as particulates remain at nearly triple values considered healthy in the Twin Cities and portions of central and northwestern Minnesota.
Colder air moving in Wednesday night will mix up the atmosphere as northwest winds increase. Relative humidity will drop, eliminating fog.
Here’s a forecast loop of visibilities across the state into Thursday afternoon:
While winds remain calm Wednesday for Minnesota, they’ll increase to the west near the cold front.
Thursday, those breezy conditions spread east and will mix up the atmosphere creating much better air quality and visibility.
Cooler, then milder again
Wednesday will still be mild with highs mainly in the 20s and 30s, but under overcast skies.
Wednesday night will be colder as a northwest wind picks up:
Highs Thursday and Friday will be mainly in the teens and 20s.
We’re already back into milder territory this weekend. In fact, highs could nudge close to 40 by Sunday and Monday in southern Minnesota.
