Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

It's a record: 50 degrees in the Twin Cities on Jan. 29

Record highs across Minnesota; snapdragons at the Weather Lab

Temperatures Monday afternoon
The Twin Cities hit a new record high temperature of 50 degrees Monday afternoon.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Federal Aviation Administration

The winter of 2023-24 is still searching for traction in Minnesota. It’s not finding any.

Blue sky at the Weather Lab
There was blue sky, no snow cover and record temperatures Monday at the Weather Lab.
Paul Huttner | MPR News

Temperatures soared to 50 degrees with sunshine and bare ground Monday afternoon in southern Minnesota. As of this post Monday afternoon Fairmont, along Interstate 90, has hit 51 degrees.

Fairmont
Fairmont in southern Minnesota hit 51 degrees Monday afternoon.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Twin Cities at least tied a 94-year-old record Monday. The temperature hit 50 degrees as of this post. That breaks the record of 49 degrees set way back in 1931.

Snapdragons popping up

Our record warmth has some tiny green snapdragon shoots popping up at the Weather Lab in the southwest Twin Cities suburbs. On Jan. 29, mind you.

Snapdragons popping up at the Weather Lab
Snapdragons popping up Monday at the Weather Lab.
Paul Huttner | MPR News

Records up north

Both International Falls and Hibbing set high-temperature records on Sunday. International Falls — the “nation’s icebox” — hit 43 degrees Sunday.

Hibbing topped out at 41 degrees Sunday.

More records ahead this week

Tuesday brings a briefly cooler air mass to Minnesota. But record warmth is likely to return on Wednesday. Sunshine on the now bare ground around parts of Minnesota will help boost temperatures.

The record of 46 degrees in the Twin Cities looks likely to fall Wednesday. And check out the 60s lurking to the west in South Dakota, toward Rapid City:

Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
NOAA

The medium-range outlooks suggest this incredible winter warm spell will persist well into February.

NOAA 8 to 14-day temperature outlook
8 to 14-day temperature outlook
NOAA

Stay tuned.