Cold dome losing its big chill; temps near normal Wednesday

The arctic air mass over the nation is slowly losing its punch. But today brings an extension of wind chill advisories and warnings for a large part of the country.

Overnight temperatures dipped to 25 to 30 below zero in portions of northern Minnesota. Bemidji dropped down to 26 below, while Fosston and Longville recorded 33 below zero at 6 a.m.

Check out the current conditions at specific locations in the state from this link from the National Weather Service.

The infrared satellite image from this morning showed a combination of the cold surface temperatures and some patchy cloud cover over Minnesota and Wisconsin. The blue shading enhances the coldest temperature returns to the GOES Geostationary Satellite.

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IR satellite
5 a.m. EST IR satellite image: NOAA/Unisys Weather

The mercury will creep through sub zero readings today and some locations may see thermometer go to the plus side this afternoon.

Tuesday max temperatures
High forecast for today. Image:National Weather Service

Along with the push of milder air on Wednesday comes a brisk southwest wind.  Milder air riding over the cold layer at the surface typically induces precipitation to form.  We'll be watching how a possible snow system sets up on Wednesday night.

Regardless of the direction, winds will add a chill as the temperatures climb closer to normal on Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday afternoon winds
Wiind forecast in knots valid at 3 p.m. CST Wednesday. Image:National Weather Service
NWS Chanhassen graphic
Image:National Weather Service Chanhassen, Minn.

Here's the model output from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Global Forecast System of liquid precipitation Wednesday night, from midnight to 6 a.m. on Thursday. Currently the forecast favors northern Iowa and far southern Minnesota with 2 to 4 inches of snow. The swath of snow could extend up to the Twin Cities.

GFS pecipitation
Precipitation forecast Wednesday night from GFS. Image:NOAA/College of Dupage

While we've been immersed in frigid wind chill readings, the cold intrusion has penetrated the deep south. A band of wintry precipitation will extend from Louisiana to the Carolinas today and tonight.

Atlanta,Ga., is under a winter storm warning for the possibility of a couple of inches of snow. Check the winter weather highlights from the National Weather Service's main webpage.

NOAA's Weather Prediction Center highlights the area most likely to receive 2 inches of snow in the next 24 hours.

Probability of two inches of snow
Image:Nation Weather Service

Cold temperatures return on Thursday night and Friday morning, but not nearly as bitter as the ones we've been experiencing.

Friday's minimums
Image:National Weather Service

It looks like we'll be dominated by high pressure for the weekend and temperatures will be below normal as we begin the final month of the meteorological winter.

Highs on Saturday
Maximum temperatures on Saturday. Image:National Weather Service