Polar now, then weekend thaw; snowy rumors Monday?

Positively polar

I spent most of last week in our nation's capitol at a workshop focused on how climate changes in the Arctic are affecting the weather in the rest of the world. Yes it turns out that rapid Arctic warming is after all affecting our weather in Minnesota, the United States and around the globe.

Polar vortex?

I listened to and talked with Rutgers arctic expert Jennifer Francis about growing and updated evidence on how so called "Arctic Amplification" is triggering jet stream changes that are making some arctic outbreaks more likely.

Disappearing glaciers?

I watched University of Colorado Boulder's Tad Pfeffer from Chasing Ice show us vivid time-lapse evidence of once massive glaciers withering into the sea at an astounding rate.

Increasingly, science is finding connective threads to link these rapid changes in the Arctic with weather in Minnesota and beyond.

Yes it turns out, the Arctic is not Vegas. What happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic.

If you still have yet to see the incredibly visual documentary "Chasing Ice" you are in for a visual feast, and a great primer on just how quickly even a slightly warmer planet can trigger massive changes in the Arctic and beyond.

Home sweet (frozen) home

Landing at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Saturday was like landing on another planet. The snow covered icy landscape below a stark contrast to still green and colorful but increasingly chilly Washington, D.C.

Our November polar plunge intensifies this week. You'll feel the chill early Tuesday morning at the bus stop or sidewalk. With ample snow cover temps will flirt with zero for the first time this season at MSP Airport.

Wind chills dip well below zero Tuesday morning, a reminder that winter can come early in these parts.

Dress the kids for January.

Meteors overnight

Brave enough for sub freezing chills? Step outside at your own risk and check out the annual Leonid meteor shower overnight.

Not brave enough? Check out the show here.

Benefits of modern technology.

Frigid week

Northwest flow from the Canadian Arctic keeps Minnesota in the deep freeze all week long. Temperatures flirt with zero at night, and we'll be lucky to climb into the 20s on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.

A weak clipper swings through Tuesday night into Wednesday morning with another potential snowy dusting.

We're No. 2!?

It looks like we'll move into the number two spot for the most consecutive days at or below freezing in November in the metro this week.

Temperatures fell to freezing last Monday, and will likely stay there until Saturday afternoon. That should be good enough for 12 straight days at or below 32 degrees give or take, and the number two spot on our early winter hit parade.

November thaw this weekend?

All signs look pretty good for a November thaw this weekend in southern Minnesota. If the forecast breeze kicks in and we avoid low stratus and fog, temperatures in the mid- to upper 30s are quite possible.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Global Forecast System is most optimistic forecast model, cranking out highs in the low 40s.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model settles on upper 30s for MSP this weekend, and brings a threat for significant rain or snow into the picture by Sunday night and Monday.

As we know all too well, a week out is too long to start making snow predictions. At this point, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts teases eastern Minnesota and Wisconsin with a heavy snow and high wind threat by next Monday. The GFS is further east and weaker with the system.

Should give us plenty to talk about in the next week.

Stay tuned.