textproduct: Twin Cities

KEY MESSAGES

- Colder than average temperatures will persist the rest of this week.

- Next chance for light snow doesn't come until the weekend.

- Warmer temperatures next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 348 AM CST Tue Jan 27 2026

Current temperatures are ranging in the single digits for most sites early this morning however, a cold front has now passed beyond MN/WI. It is anticipated that temps should continue to fall a few to around 0 degrees this morning. Aloft, broad troughing remains in place over the Hudson Bay and will direct a mid-level low eastward over the upper Great Lakes. One thing of note is that the pressure gradient from this mid-level wave has shaped up to be a bit tighter and has caused sfc wind gusts to achieve roughly 5 to 7 kts faster than the NBM. Additionally, enough weak forcing exists to where a few bands of light snow showers/flurries have developed. Given these trends, had to increase both wind gusts and PoPs in the very near term to reflect the uptick of winds and precip activity. The hourly GFS reflected the flurry potential pretty well so opt'ed to blend this into the forecast. The lack of saturated DGZ and winds remaining increased, any snow that falls will just end up blowing around. Minor impacts to vsby could occur in non-sheltered areas early this morning but that is not expected to last through the day.

Wind gusts will decrease as the aforementioned low continues east this afternoon and a 1030mb sfc high pressure will fill in from the west. Forecasted highs unfortunately will not be as warm as they were yesterday as most will observe the single digits. Cloud cover will decrease this morning leading to mostly sunny skies by this afternoon. Western Wisconsin will share the sunshine today however there could be a few straggling patches of stratus this afternoon.

The rest of this week continues to be cold and quiet. The Hudson Low will gradually try and make its way over the northeastern U.S. and will keep amplified ridging pinned over the western CONUS. Meanwhile locally, we will be on the eastern periphery of this ridge, meaning NW flow will prevail keeping our forecast high temperatures mainly in the single digits through Friday. Wind chills at the moment do not pose concern for any headlines over the next few days but conditions will require the need to bundle up if heading out. By this weekend, the ridge will make its way east into the central CONUS and aid temps returning to near normal and then perhaps a few degrees above normal heading into next week. Only precip chance looks to be Saturday into Sunday but as of now looks to be nothing of significance.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 555 AM CST Tue Jan 27 2026

A departing mid-level wave is creating scattered VFR to MVFR cigs this morning across most sites. Skies should gradually clear as the morning progresses. Gusty NW winds ranging between 20- 30kts will prevail during the next few hours and start decreasing this afternoon. A few flurries will be possible for RNH and EAU for through 14z but confidence was too low to include mentions within the TAF. Did include a TEMPO between 12 to 14z for brief periods of MVFR cigs at EAU. The forecast beyond 00z becomes very uniform with westerly winds around 10kts and few to sct high-level clouds for the remainder of the period.

KMSP...Breezy NW winds between 20-25kts will continue through this morning before decreasing below 18kts around 22z timeframe. Sct low VFR cigs associated with a departing mid-level wave could drop cigs briefly to MVFR heights. Skies should become mostly sunny this this afternoon. By this evening winds become westerly around 10kts for the rest of the period.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ WED PM...VFR. Wind NW 5-10 kts. THU...VFR. Wind N 5-10 kts. FRI...VFR. Wind NW 5-10 kts.

MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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