Spring preview ends, March reality check

Call this week a meteorological speed bump.

Our remarkable and unseasonable warmth comes to an end today as a cold front sails south through Minnesota. But not before a record-breaking Sunday capped off the warmest March week in three years.

Minnesota rode the northern edge of an unmistakable bubble of record warmth Sunday.

316 sfc
High Sunday afternoon - University of Illinois

The first 70 degree temp of the year at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport comes nearly a month early this year. The average date of the first 70  is April 13.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

The list of record highs from Sunday is long. Here are a few.

  • 64 degrees at Duluth

  • 70 degrees at MSP Airport, St. Cloud and Grand Forks

  • 75 degrees at Fargo

March reality check

It's back to March reality today as a cold front slides south through Minnesota. Two steps forward, one step back. That's how spring works in Minnesota.

316 msp

Here's the set-up. Today's cold front brings an air mass that's much closer to typical for mid-March. Watch the big blue H drift south over Minnesota the next 48 hours.

316 allfcsts_loop_ndfd (1)
NOAA

North of the front today, a few rain showers.

316 dlh

Here's a closer look at the week ahead. Temps return much closer to, but still mostly above, average for mid-March. The average high for the Twin Cities this week: 42 degrees.

316 kky
Weatherspark

After a chilly weekend with highs in the 30s, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model suggests a quick warm-up back into the 60s again next week.

316 kky2
Weatherspark

Stay tuned. After a few chilly speed bumps spring may be determined to stick around early this year.