Spring-forward: Another near-record warm wave ahead

We set our clocks forward one hour overnight. It’s that time of year when we add daylight in the evening, at the expense of early morning.

Our sunset Saturday evening in the Twin Cities is 6:12 p.m. On Sunday the sun will set at 7:13 p.m.

Civil twilight, the time when it’s still just light enough to navigate around outside by natural daylight is at 7:42 p.m. Sunday evening. That means on clear evenings it will now be light in the western sky until after 8 p.m.

People feel differently about daylight saving time. I’m a big fan. I work until 6 p.m. most days. That means in summer I have plenty of daylight after work to get a bike ride in. Or some golf. Or a boat ride. I’d much rather have that extra daylight when it’s warmer out as it is in the evening vs. early morning. I love a good 9 p.m. sunset in summer.

Near-record warmth again

It’s been a properly brisk couple of days across Minnesota. But milder breezes blow in starting Sunday afternoon. Highs Sunday will reach the 50s southwest of a Twin Cities to Grand Forks line.

Record highs possible next week

Our next warm wave peaks early next week. Here are the record highs for the Twin Cities next Monday through Wednesday.

• Monday 66 degrees (2016, 1983)

• Tuesday 70 degrees (2016)

• Wednesday 67 degrees (2012)

I think our best shot at a record high next week is Monday. Highs Monday will push into the 60s again in southern and western Minnesota.

Tuesday brings similar warmth.

And by Wednesday some cooler air begins to seep into northern Minnesota.

Our weather pattern looks colder late next week. Rain or snow chances favor southern Minnesota Thursday. NOAA’s GFS model shows the storm grazing southern Minnesota.

The medium-range forecast maps suggest we’re still not out of the woods for snow this season. NOAA’s 8-14 day temperature outlook finally favors near-normal temperature in late March.

Don’t put the snow shovels away for the season just yet.

Stay tuned.