Coldest Twins “Opening Day” yet at Target Field; “Hard Freeze” Tuesday AM

35 degree "Wind Chill" at Target Field at 4pm Monday in Twins Home Opener

Source: NWS

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Warm jackets go with cold beer at Twins Opener Monday

Photo by Paul Huttner-MPR News

Freeze warnings in effect until 10AM Tuesday morning

25 to 32 degrees in the metro early Tuesday

Even "Urban Heat Islands" should see freezing temps Tuesday morning

70s return by Saturday?

Precious rain (and some thunder) likely Thursday-Sunday

Warmly clad fans file into Target Field Monday

Photo Paul Huttner-MPR News

Play ball! With parkas and baseball caps:

If there was ever a "Star Wars Bar" in Minnesota, it was been at Target Field Monday afternoon.

It was one of those classic Minnesota scenes for the Twins Home Opener Monday.

Fans donned a seasonally confused mix of baseball caps, winter hats, polar fleece and even parkas mixed in with various Twins gear.

Photo Paul Huttner-MPR news

The game time temp of 43 degrees and a raw northwest wind gusting as high as 30 mph combined to drop wind chills into the mid 30s Monday afternoon.

Photo Paul Huttner-MPR News

It was by far the coldest Opening Day in the brief 3 year history at Target Field, and it was a full 20 degrees colder than last year's 64 degree high! Throw in the wind and it felt 30 degrees colder in the shade...more like March.

2010: Sunny - 68 degrees (April 12th vs. Boston Red Sox)

2011: Sunny 64 degrees (April 8th vs. Oakland A's)

2012: Mixed sun & clouds, windy Temp: 43 degrees - Wind Chill 35 degrees!

Fans huddled in the seat rows in the shade, but it wasn't as bad in the sun.

Photo Paul Huttner-MPR News

A tail wind at Target Field Monday seemed to help when Josh Willingham crushed a 389 foot home run to left-center in the bottom of the 4th inning.

At least that's how it looked from the comfy confines of the press box!

"Hard Freeze": Tuesday Morning:

It looks cold enough for a hard freeze (3 or more hours below 28 degrees) in most of Minnesota Tuesday morning.

Source: NWS

Even in the metro, temps should dip to or below freezing in the Urban Heat Island.

Freeze warnings are in effect until 10am Tuesday!

Source: NWS

Pattern Change: Late week rain?

A shift to a southwest upper air flow will bring a series of low pressure systems toward Minnesota last this week. Several batches of showers & T-Storms should rumble through Minnesota between Thursday night and Sunday.

The flow looks promising to deliver some significant rainfall totals to central and southern Minnesota. 1" to 2"+ rainfall is a possibility.

Source: ISU

We really need the rain...so I'm watching this one with hopeful eyes as a Minnesotan, and watchful eyes as a meteorologist!

PH