Warm and breezy Sunday, chance PM shower Monday
Our average high temperature in the Twin Cities this time of year is 36 degrees. We are expecting metro area highs in the upper 50s this afternoon, and we could touch 60:
60s are a good bet over southwestern and west central Minnesota.
An approaching low pressure system will give us a breezy day today, and we could see some scattered showers and thunderstorm by Monday afternoon and evening:
Periods of rain are likely from Monday night into Tuesday, with scattered thunderstorms also possible.
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Warmer than normal all week
A warm upper air pattern persists through the coming week. We have a shot at 60 Monday and Tuesday! A surface cold front moves through Tuesday evening, but high temperatures will remain a bit above normal on Wednesday:
Fish houses off of lakes
We had a record warm December in Minnesota, so lake ice was late to form. That really shortened our ice fishing season this year.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources advises that fish houses, portables and dark houses have to be removed end of the day on Monday, March 7 for about the southern two thirds of Minnesota. Complete details are at: MN DNR .
Anchorage, Alaska snow shortage
Yesterday, the ceremonial start of the Iditarod sled dog race in Anchorage Alaska was shortened from 11 miles to 3 miles due to a lack of snow. Anchorage has seen only 29.3 inches of snow this season, which is less than half of normal. Last year they also had minimal snow cover. The 2014-2015 snow season was the least snowy in Anchorage history, with only 25.1 inches. That is about one third of normal.
Race officials brought in some snow via rail cars to help prepare the Iditarod course this year!
Eric Holtus of Slate.com discusses the unusual winter weather for the 2016 Iditarod at Slate .
Among Eric's observations: "Feb. 29 was the first February day in recorded history in which there were zero inches of snowpack in Anchorage, during what is typically the snowiest time of the year."
The official Iditarod race competition starts today in Willow, Alaska and covers about 1000 miles, finishing in Nome. The winner of the Iditarod race typically crosses the finish line after about 9 days.