Windy today, some 30s this week; January snow cover was much higher last year

Yes, it’s windy.

We have a low pressure system over the western Dakotas today and a strong high pressure system over the Ohio River Valley. There’s a huge pressure difference between those two systems, so we’ll have strong winds through much of today.

Wind gusts to between 30 and 40 mph are possible today in eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Gusts of 45 to 55 mph are possible today in portions of western Minnesota.

The strong winds will cause blowing snow and reduced visibilities at times in southwestern Minnesota, where a winter weather advisory continues until 3 p.m. Sunday:

Here are details of the winter weather advisory in southwestern Minnesota:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 1036 AM CST Sun Jan 21 2024 MNZ071-072-080-097-SDZ040-212100- /O.CON.KFSD.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-240121T2100Z/ Lincoln-Lyon-Murray-Pipestone-Brookings- 1036 AM CST Sun Jan 21 2024 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Blowing snow. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph. * WHERE...In Minnesota, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray and Pipestone Counties. In South Dakota, Brookings County. * WHEN...Until 3 PM CST this afternoon. * IMPACTS...Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility in open areas. Visibility and road conditions may rapidly change over short distances. Strong winds could cause tree damage. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Blowing and drifting snow may lead to icy roads. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use caution while traveling, especially in open areas. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR News network. 

Temperature trends

Much of the southern half of Minnesota will see Sunday high temps of 20 degrees or warmer. Teens are expected elsewhere in Minnesota and in western Wisconsin. Metro area highs will reach the lower 20s.

Wind chill temps Sunday afternoon are expected to be mainly in the single-digits either side of zero.

Monday high temps will be in the 20s to lower 30s:

The Twin Cities metro area is expected top out in the lower 30s on Monday. The metro area hasn’t seen 30s since Jan. 9.

Tuesday highs reach the 30s across much of the southern half of Minnesota plus western Wisconsin:

Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to be in the the upper 30s on Wednesday, followed by mid 30s Thursday and Friday.

Above-normal temps are expected next weekend and unusually warm weather could continue into the beginning of February. Here’s the Jan. 28 through Feb. 3 temperature outlook from the NWS Climate Prediction Center:

Wintry mix possible in northern Minnesota

A wintry mix of light snow, sleet and freezing drizzle is possible in portions of northern Minnesota Sunday night into Monday morning.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale Forecast System model shows the potential precipitation pattern from 5 p.m. Sunday to noon on Monday:

Precipitation could occur in some areas that look dry in the forecast radar loop, so check forecast updates later today and on Monday.

Parts of Minnesota and western Wisconsin could also see a wintry mix on Tuesday.

Updated forecast information will be posted by the National Weather Service offices in the Twin Cities, Duluth, La Crosse, Wis., Sioux Falls, S.D. and Grand Forks, N.D.

Snow depths were much higher last January

The official Twin Cities snow depth is one inch right now. I notice grass poking through the snow cover in parts of St. Paul and even some bare patches.

Here’s the latest Minnesota snow depth map, from the Minnesota State Climatology Office:

The only areas with 8 inches or more of snow cover are shaded blue.

One year ago, the Twin Cities snow depth was 11 inches, and almost the entire state had 8 inches or more of snow cover:

The purple shades show 18 inches or more of snow cover last January in northeastern Minnesota.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.