textproduct: Twin Cities

KEY MESSAGES

- Cold Weather Advisory in effect for wind chills of -25 to -35F Friday night through Sunday across much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

- Light snow showers possible for Friday morning's commute. Accumulations less than 1" expected.

- Highs trend above freezing for the first half of next week.

UPDATE

Issued at 732 AM CST Fri Dec 12 2025

Light freezing drizzle is mixing in with the light snow across eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin this morning. Snow accumulations are only expected to be around 0.5" or less but the light snow & patchy freezing drizzle could lead to slick roads & surfaces during the morning commute, especially in the Twin Cities metro. Motorists are urged to reduce speed, increase distance between vehicles, & have their headlights on during the commute this morning.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 306 AM CST Fri Dec 12 2025

An area of clear skies has allowed temperatures to drop below zero across parts of east-central Minnesota and western Wisconsin this morning. Regional radar and satellite show an approaching surface front from the northwest, producing light snow in parts of eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota. This front will pass through central and eastern Minnesota throughout the morning, potentially impacting the morning commute, creating slick travel and decreasing visibilities with any stronger bands that may form. Overall QPF is expected to be light, with only a few hundredths to a tenth forecast. The snow will linger in western Wisconsin into the early afternoon before exiting east.

Winds will increase out of the northwest behind the front, gusting to around 25 to 35 mph. This will help usher in much cooler air, dropping temperatures below zero across the entire region. Good news is that the winds weaken during the coolest part of the night, though wind chills will still be 20 to 30 degrees below zero Saturday morning. Winds increase again during the day Saturday as another system passes to the southwest, limiting any recovery from the blistery conditions. Latest guidance keeps most of the snow to our south with this system, though portions of southwest Minnesota could pick up an inch or two of fluffy snow. The rest of folks north will mainly just see a light dusting or flurries Saturday morning.

The worst of the cold peaks during Saturday night into Sunday morning, with high confidence for the entirety of the region to have wind chill temperatures 25 to 35 degrees below zero. It's not until Sunday afternoon where winds shift out of the south and we start to rebound temperatures. A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect to highlight our coldest stretch of weather of the winter so far.

Long range ensembles continue to suggest a pattern change with ridging building in over much of the central US. Temperatures should climb above freezing for at least a few days, depending on how long the southerly flow can hold in place. The one thing working against us will be the solid snow pack not only in our area, but also well south and west of us. We also should see a lull in precipitation until the ridge breaks down, potentially around mid-late week.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1159 AM CST Fri Dec 12 2025

Periods of -SN and BLSN to continue over the next few hours as a cold front kicks up NW'ly wind gusts between 20-30kts. The front has yet to reach RNH and EAU but should increase winds over the next hour or so. Additionally did throw in a tempo for RNH and EAU for a brief period of MVFR -SN early this afternoon. Winds and precip decrease this evening post FROPA. Cigs will begin to scatter out this evening becoming VFR overnight. Another band of light snow is possible early tomorrow morning for MKT and RWF however higher confidence for prevailing snow remains south and west of those sites.

KMSP...Gusty winds between 20-25kt will continue through early this evening. Another short band of -SN and -FZDZ will make its way across MSP over the next hour as the cold front passes. Cigs will beginning to scatter out shortly after 00z and return VFR after 02z.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ SUN...VFR. Wind W early, bcmg S 5-10kts. MON...VFR. Wind S early, bcmg WNW 10-15kts. TUE...VFR. Wind SW 10-15G20kts.

MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MN...Winter Weather Advisory until 3 PM CST this afternoon for Chippewa-Douglas-Kandiyohi-Lac Qui Parle-McLeod-Meeker- Pope-Renville-Sibley-Stevens-Swift-Yellow Medicine. Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 10 AM CST Sunday for Anoka-Benton-Blue Earth-Carver-Chippewa- Chisago-Dakota-Douglas-Freeborn-Goodhue-Hennepin-Isanti- Kanabec-Kandiyohi-Le Sueur-McLeod-Meeker-Mille Lacs- Morrison-Nicollet-Pope-Ramsey-Renville-Rice-Scott- Sherburne-Sibley-Stearns-Steele-Stevens-Swift-Todd-Waseca- Washington-Wright. Cold Weather Advisory from 6 PM Saturday to 10 AM CST Sunday for Brown-Faribault-Lac Qui Parle-Martin-Redwood-Watonwan- Yellow Medicine. WI...Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 10 AM CST Sunday for Barron-Chippewa-Dunn-Eau Claire-Pepin-Pierce- Polk-Rusk-St. Croix.