textproduct: Twin Cities

KEY MESSAGES

- Twp clippers will bring minor snow accumulations today and Wednesday.

- 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 308 AM CST Tue Dec 30 2025

Clouds have increased overnight ahead of today's clipper system. The increased cloud cover and weak warm air advection have allowed temperatures to slowly rise overnight. A warm front across western MN will continue east this morning. Temperatures will rebound back into the low 30s for highs by late this afternoon/early this evening across MN. The clipper will track from southern Manitoba early this morning to northern WI this afternoon. A period of light snow will accompany the system this morning and could bring accumulation of around an inch to areas along and east of the Mississippi River. The light snow will end as the DGZ layer dries this afternoon, but continued saturation from just above the surface to about 8kft and very weak Omega throughout the layer may allow areas of light freezing drizzle to develop. Any freezing drizzle that develops will end late in the afternoon as the saturated layer becomes shallower.

Quick on the heels of the first clipper, a second one will track from Alberta this evening to Nebraska midday Wednesday. More light snow will spread southeast, but this time a little farther southwest. Slightly higher snow ratios are expected to offset the lighter QPF. There will be two DGZ layers, one between 10-15kft AGL, and the second from the surface to 5kft AGL thanks to a renewed shot of arctic air. However, lift will be weak and winds will be very strong in the upper level DGZ which should fracture the dendrites. Steep low level lapse rates will reside within the lower DGZ, potentially allowing for steadier snow showers at times. All that being said, it should be another few hour event that leads to around an inch of accumulation.

The longer range pattern into early next week will feature a ridge across the western U.S. and a trough in the northeast. Like the next couple days, there may be a couple weak clippers passing through capable of brief periods of light snow or flurries. There are no larger storms on the horizon. Temperatures will generally remain below normal, but a rebound toward normal may occur Sunday and Monday as the pattern flattens out a little and we're able to build in slightly milder air.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 950 PM CST Mon Dec 29 2025

VFR conditions continue to start the period, with MVFR/IFR likely by mid-late morning for most terminals. Mid/high level clouds are beginning to overspread the region from the northwest ahead of our next system. Cigs will gradually lower throughout the period, with an area of light snow forming generally along and north of the I-94 corridor. This system has trended south in the latest guidance, further increasing confidence in snowfall occurring at AXN, STC, MSP, RNH, and EAU. Maintained a prob30 for MKT with uncertainty in just how far the steadier snowfall will push south. Amounts will be around an inch or less, and snowfall should only last 4-6 hours at any given terminal. Winds stay below 10 kts for the start of the period, shifting out of the southwest overnight and eventually increasing out of the northwest by tomorrow afternoon.

KMSP...No major changes to the forecast. Best period for snowfall still looks to be around 14-18z. This window may shift an hour two, but we expect snow to only last for around 4 to 6 hours. MVFR cigs expected to linger through the rest of the period following the snow.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ WED...VFR to MVFR. Wind SE 10-15G25kts. THU...MVFR. Wind S early, bcmg NW 15-20G30kts. FRI...VFR. Wind SE 10-15G25kts.

MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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