Milder weekend temps
Most of Minnesota will see highs in the 50s today, but 40s are on tap for northeastern Minnesota.
A high pressure system moves eastward today:
Southwestern Minnesota could see afternoon highs in the lower 60s.
On Saturday, much of southern and central Minnesota will see highs in the lower 60s:
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Our average high in the Twin Cities is only 56 degrees right now, so these temps are mild!
Sunday highs will be just slightly above normal, warming to around 60 in the Twin Cities:
Highs in the 50s are expected In the Twin Cities Monday and Tuesday, and there is a good chance that we'll see some periods of rain Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.
Waiting for 32
The coldest reading this month at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has been 36 degrees, on both October 8th and 9th.
It was colder in many parts of the metro are on both of those mornings.
I saw frost on my lawn in St. Paul on both October 8th and 9th. MPR meteorologist Bill Endersen sent me a note saying that he also saw frost on his south Minneapolis lawn on both of those mornings.
When the air is calm or winds are very light, it can be several degrees colder at ground level than the official temperature, which is measured 2 meters above the ground.
According to the Minnesota State Climatology Office, the median date of our first official 32 or colder reading at Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport is October 8th.
This week, the Minnesota State Climatology Office stated:
Looking at the past weather records from 1871-2015 a 32 degree F temperature has occurred about 75% of the time by October 19. If this warm regime persists through October 27, then the rarity of the first 32 degrees for the Twin Cities is about 1 out of 10 years.
It looks like we won't see 32 degrees or colder at MSP airport in the next 7 days.
The latest that we have seen our first official 32 degree reading of autumn in the Twin Cities is November 7, in 1900.
November outlook
The Climate Prediction Center of NOAA shows a tendency for above normal temperatures in Minnesota for the month of November:
The outlook is for average temperature of the entire month of November.
Even if the average temperature of the entire month turns out to be warmer than normal, there are still likely to be some cold days!
Yesterday's updraft blog had details about Minnesota's colder than normal outlook for winter (December through February).
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.