Milder Friday; Cooler weekend, January Thaw kicks in next week

-3.5F temps vs. average so far in January at MSP

+13 minutes increase in evening daylight since December 15th

+1 minute per day daylight increase next 2 weeks

65.8% snow cover now in the USA (lower 48 states)

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18.7% last year on this date

30F possible by Friday afternoon in the metro and southern Minnesota

January Thaw 30s possible Monday through Thursday of next week

Arctic Invasion? -10F to -15F possible in the metro Janaury 15th-20th time frame?

Arctic Retreat:

Temps will gradually respond as arctic air eases in the Upper Midwest Friday. Highs should bump 30 by Friday afternoon from near the metro south into Iowa.

Image: NOAA

So far January is running a good -3.5F below average. This has the look and feel of a real January so far. Now if we could just get some more snow for snow lovers? There's a chance of a little snow next week but the models don't favor anything huge in the cards just yet.

Arctic Fluff:

Fellow MPR meteorologist Craig Edwards likes to talk about "high quality snowflakes." We got some Thursday as advancing arctic air managed to squeeze out a dusting of "arctic fluff."

It's amazing how efficient arctic air is at "paving the way" for its arrival by squeezing out scant amounts of atmospheric moisture into pretty snowflakes.

Check out the close up view on the Weather Lab fence Thursday, which appears to show some star shaped "stellar dendrites."

Image: Paul Huttner - MPR News

The physics of snowflakes is as close as we get to weather heaven on this earth I think. Creating unique, intricate stunningly beautiful snow crystals out of thin air in sub freezing temps? Pure magic.

Here's a great look at what science of snow crystals under different conditions from one of my favorite websites, snowcrystals.com

Image: CalTech

Growing snow cover:

Recent storms have brought respectable snow cover to the USA. With 65.8% now snow covered compared to last year's 18.7% on this date, It looks like a real January across the USA this year.

Image: NOHRSC

Thursday's NASA MODIS Terra image to clearly shows the white coating from space.

Image: NASA via UW Madison

January Thaw next week:

All signs still point to a January Thaw next week in Minnesota.

After a seasonably cool weekend with highs in the 20s, 30s are likely next Monday through Thursday.

Image: NOAA

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