Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Much colder air ahead by Thanksgiving

Strong cold front pushes through Minnesota this week

Surface weather maps
Surface weather maps through Wednesday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

November is running remarkably warm this year across Minnesota. Our monthly temperatures in the Twin Cities are running 6.1 degrees warmer than average through Nov. 19.

That is about to change this week.

A series of cold fronts will sweep through Minnesota from Canada this week. The second front late Wednesday brings a much colder Canadian air mass that will keep temperatures near or below freezing for all of Minnesota Thanksgiving weekend.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2.5-day surface animation loop at the top of this post shows the fronts sweeping southeast through Wednesday evening.

Mild again first

Tuesday brings brisk northwest winds with highs in the 40s south and 30s north. Keep in mind the average high for the Twin Cities on Tuesday is just 39 degrees, so we’ll still hover a few degrees above average on Tuesday.

Forecast high temperatures Tuesday
Forecast high temperatures Tuesday
NOAA

Wednesday brings on more shot of mild air before the stronger cold front arrives. Bright sun and southwest winds Wednesday will boost temperatures to the 50s degrees in the south once again.

Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
NOAA

Cold Turkey Day

Thanksgiving will be blustery and colder. Gusty northwest winds and frigid temperatures will feel unusually chilly compared to what we have felt this November. Highs will hover in the 30s north and low 30s south most of Thanksgiving weekend.

Forecast high temperatures Thursday
Forecast high temperatures Thanksgiving Day
NOAA

The good news? Travel conditions look excellent through Thanksgiving weekend. A few flurries look possible on Saturday and Sunday but overall it should be mostly dry.