textproduct: Twin Cities

KEY MESSAGES

- Another clipper system brings another period of light snow accumulations Wednesday.

- Areas of freezing drizzle tonight mainly across southern MN to include the I-90 corridor.

- Brief cold start to the New Year, with sub-zero morning lows and highs in the single digits. Temperatures modify back into the 20s next weekend.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 309 PM CST Tue Dec 30 2025

Temperatures currently range in the mid-30s across western Minnesota to the mid-20s in central Minnesota, then the teens in western Wisconsin. Satellite shows much of the upper plains blanketed under another stratus deck which should help overnight lows fall only to the 20s for most. As for precip activity, most sites this afternoon should now be snowfall free except for those east of the I-35 corridor and into Wisconsin. A few blips of scattered mixed precipitation redeveloping in west-central MN thanks to a stationary boundary that producing just enough lift to squeeze out some moisture. The main concern as we move into tonight will be the potential for freezing drizzle. Forecast soundings have favored plenty of saturation beneath a dried out DGZ aloft. With temperatures hovering a degree or two around freezing combined with ample surface moisture, light freezing drizzle could occur for a few hours overnight especially across southern MN. Therefore ice accumulations up to a light glaze could potentially make for a slippery commute on untreated surfaces.

Wednesday's forecast will be very similar to what we saw today. Early tomorrow morning, another clipper with an associated cold front will makes its way southeast across the Dakotas. Light snow can be expected to begin falling in central Minnesota as early as 5- 7AM, the Twin Cities Metro between 6-8AM, and then western Wisconsin between 7-9AM. Snowfall accumulations will range less than one inch but could make for slippery conditions. Snow should taper off during the late morning to early afternoon hours. Forecast soundings show that the surface layer does dry out enough to where the threat of lingering freezing drizzle is much less of a concern. 2025 is expected to depart with a "cold shoulder", as temperatures will fall to or a few degrees below zero with wind chills reaching teens below zero.

Another clipper looks possible on New Years Day (Thursday). Although the current track has any precipitation staying within the confines of northeastern MN into northern Wisconsin keeping us dry. Most of us will remain mostly cloudy however a few lucky ones may get to see some partial sunshine in southern MN. Highs will mainly be in the teens for the first day of 2026. Friday and Saturday, more sunshine looks to return to the forecast as a gradual warm-up begins into early next week. Another system does look to potentially brush northeastern MN but once again, but only appears to provide light snowfall impacts up in that region for now. Highs going into next week will range in the 20s and lows in the teens.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1126 AM CST Tue Dec 30 2025

Light snow has been tracking across central Minnesota into western Wisconsin this morning and will continue into the afternoon. As this snow has been coming to an end some patchy freezing drizzle has been observed. This will continue to be possible this afternoon into the early evening. Lower MVFR ceilings to continue into tomorrow as another clipper system arrives. This should provide another round of light snow. Exact timing of the biggest impacts still a little uncertain, so opted for a larger PROB30 that we will refine in future TAFs. MVFR most likely with this snow but more isolated IFR as well, as seen this morning. Main difference for tomorrow is that the snow will track a little farther south and be more impactful for STC, MSP, and MKT.

KMSP...Generally expecting the light snow with MVFR impacts to continue early this afternoon. There could be some freezing drizzle at the end of the snow, but it appears brief such that it was not added to the TAF. Also the worst of the snow has remained to the northeast, so kept the IFR TEMPO out. MVFR continues through tomorrow with another round of snow tomorrow morning.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ THU...VFR. Wind SW 5-10kts. FRI...VFR. Wind NW 5-10kts. SAT...VFR. Wind S 5-15kts.

MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MN...None. WI...None.