textproduct: Twin Cities

KEY MESSAGES

- Very cold temperatures continue through Sunday night. The Cold Weather Advisory continues through mid-morning today.

- Remaining quiet with below normal temperatures next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 353 AM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

A cold but quiet morning continues across the northern plains. Current temperatures range in the teens below zero across southern Minnesota whereas in the 20s below zero across central MN and western Wisconsin. Light and variable winds have helped keep dangerously cold wind chills at bay. However, the lack of cloud cover from existing high pressure will help bring wind chills back down to -25 to -35 degrees for portions of western and central MN, and western Wisconsin through mid-morning today. It is at that time, the Cold Weather Advisory for those impacted areas is expected to expire. Areas farther north of central MN can expect to remain under cold weather headlines through this evening.

The aforementioned high pressure will gradually weaken and slide eastward over the Great Lakes today. Return flow will increase winds slightly and help "warm" surface temperatures within a few degrees above or below 0 for forecast highs today and tomorrow. Similar to yesterday, forecast soundings appear to be overly aggressive on the amount of cloud cover overhead. Therefore trended with a blend using lower percentiles the NBM and HREF to maintain a potential of shallow layer cu fields. A mid-level wave sinks down from the NW later on today and by tonight into Sunday morning, forecast soundings did hint for a slight potential of a few flurries occurring. Although, the more likely scenario appears dry. No snow accumulation is expected should any flurries manage to fall.

As we head into next week, the forecast continues to trend cold and well below normal for the rest of January. Some snow could occur south of I-94 Tuesday night into Wednesday but it looks like the soundings prefer to keep the environment dry which appears to be represented well via latest NBM guidance. As we enter February NW'ly flow looks to become more zonal and advect some milder air into the northern plains. If this verifies, we would see temperatures return to near or slightly above normal.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 547 AM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

No major changes since the previous discussion. VFR with a potential of upper-level cu developing as the day progresses. Continued with limiting mentions of sky cover to "few" for nearly all sites, as guidance appeared to be handling sky coverage much too aggressively (same as yesterday). Only concern is a mid-level wave that approaches from the NW tonight and potentially brings a slight chance of flurries tomorrow morning after 06z. The extent of any precip looks to be up near AXN and STC for now although drier solutions appear to be the likely scenario thus did not include mentions of precip in the current TAF. No accumulations are expected should any snowfall develops. Winds will begin out of the south today and remain under 10kts. Winds shift to SE'ly later this afternoon and then becoming variable overnight.

KMSP...No additional concerns.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ SUN...VFR. Wind VRB 5kts. MON...VFR. Wind SW 10 kts. TUE...VFR. Wind NW 10-15kts.

MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MN...Cold Weather Advisory until 9 AM CST this morning for Benton- Chippewa-Chisago-Douglas-Isanti-Kanabec-Lac Qui Parle- Mille Lacs-Morrison-Pope-Redwood-Stevens-Swift-Todd- Yellow Medicine. WI...Cold Weather Advisory until 9 AM CST this morning for Barron- Chippewa-Dunn-Eau Claire-Polk-Rusk-St. Croix.