Snow ends, 40s return tomorrow and late next week?

If that was the worst March has to deliver, the Twin Cities will get off lucky.

Our mid-March snowstorm delivered in spades with 6 to 10 inches from southwest to central Minnesota.

Snowfall totals in the Twin Cities (mercifully?) ended up on the lower end of the forecast snowfall range. The snowfall map shows the swath of heavy snow cutting across central Minnesota from southwest to northeast.

Here's a closer look at the snowfall totals from a select list of cities. The Golden Snow Shovel Award appears to go to Ogilvie, Minn., south of Mille Lacs, with 10 inches of fresh March snow.

Here's a look at snowfall totals from the Duluth NWS.

Wintry storm done, spring next

Astronomical spring arrives tomorrow at 11:57 am CDT as the vernal equinox occurs.

The weather maps look to cooperate with the calendar as temps should rise into the lower 40s again for the metro and most of southern Minnesota Thursday and again Friday.

Farther north, the next low pressure system tracks across northern Minnesota Friday, bringing another shot of snow. Click on the map below to see the next low pressure wave riding into northern Minnesota with snow by Friday.

Weekend chill ahead

It looks like another chilly weekend on tap for Minnesota. A second cold shot into early next week keeps us as much as (gulp!) 20 degrees below average.

Warmest air of the year so far late next week?

In other (better?) weather news, the longer range pattern suggests warmer air may return late next week.

If the trends from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Global Forecast System pan out, this could be the warmest surge so far this year. It could still be a wishcast this far out, but the 16 day GFS is cranking out highs in the 50s -- and yes even 60s by around April 1.

Hopefully this is not a cruel early April Fool's joke!

Stay tuned.