Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Arctic cold front Tuesday night; subzero temperatures and wind chills ahead

Wind chills in the minus 30s across NW Minnesota into Wednesday morning

Wind chill forecast
Wind chill forecast for 6 a.m. Wednesday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Here it comes, Minnesota.

An arctic front blows through Minnesota Tuesday night. It will deliver the coldest air mass of the early (meteorological) winter season so far by Thursday morning.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NAM 3 km model shows bands of snow with the arctic front.

On the map below, you can see the snow zones drifting across Minnesota overnight into Wednesday morning from the northwest as the front sails through.

The forecast model loop runs between 6 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday.

NOAA NAM 3 km model
North American Mesoscale 3 km model between 6 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday
NOAA, via Tropical Tidbits

Slick roads are possible Wednesday morning with light snow, falling temperatures, and gusty winds.

Most areas in central and southern Minnesota will see less than an inch of snow, but 1 to 2 inches is likely in the north.

Snowfall projection for Minnesota
Snowfall projection for Minnesota
NOAA

Temperatures will fall below zero in northwestern Minnesota by Wednesday morning.

Forecast low temperatures Wednesday
Forecast low temperatures Wednesday
NOAA

Wind chills will dive into the minus 30s across the northwest by Wednesday morning.

Wind chill forecast
Wind chill forecast for 6 a.m. Wednesday
NOAA

NOAA’s new cold weather advisories will get a workout this week across the region.

Including the cities of Salol, Fox, Oakwood, Argyle, Devils Lake, Considine, Gatzke, Akra, Lakota, Park River, Warren, Nash, Cando, Bowesmont, Maida, Lancaster, Stephen, Cavalier, Drayton, Adams, Florian, Karlstad, Mcville, Fairdale, Dresden, Casperson, Malung, Hallock, Grygla, Lankin, Mount Carmel, Tolna, Rosewood, Aneta, Vang, Englund, Middle River, Langdon, Leroy, Roseau, Radium, Hayes Lake State Park, Espelie, Grafton, Pencer, Newfolden, Backoo, and Walhalla

1219 PM CST Tue Dec 10 2024

...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON CST WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 37 below expected.

* WHERE...Portions of northwest Minnesota and northeast North Dakota.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to noon CST Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 35 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. Wind chill values can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure. Very cold temperatures can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.

Temperatures Wednesday will hover below zero in the northwest.

Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
NOAA

The bitter air mass bottoms out Thursday morning. Temperatures will fall below zero in the south with temperatures in the minus 20s northwest.

Forecast low temperatures Thursday morning
Forecast low temperatures Thursday morning
NOAA

The good news? Our first real arctic air mass will last about 48 hours. Forecast models return milder Pacific air into Minnesota next weekend with highs in the 30s.

Forecast high temperatures Sunday
Forecast high temperatures Sunday
NOAA

Stay tuned.