February 60s! Records smashed, but winter not done yet
If a picture is worth a thousand words, I can stop writing now.
As expected, high temperature records fell like dominoes across Minnesota Friday. An increasingly warm sun, bare ground and a warm Pacific air mass drove temps into the 60s in the Twin Cities for the first time in three months.
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport blew past the previous high temperature record of 55 degrees by lunchtime. Temps pushed well into the 60s by afternoon, smashing high temperature records by 5 to 10 degrees. Temps soared into the mid 60s at Redwood Falls in southwest Minnesota.
Local lakes took on a spring-like sheen. The sun and warmth working in concert to create a watery coating.
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.
Several golf ranges, outdoor patios and bars opened Friday afternoon. Here's the view from Maynard's Excelsior web cam. Outdoor happy hour on Feb. 17 anyone? Welcome to our rapidly changing Minnesota winters.
Rare February 60s
How rare is 60 degrees in February? This is only the 5th time the Twin Cities has reached 60 degrees in February going back to 1873.
Snow-free southern Minnesota
NASA's MODIS 1,000 meter resolution visible shot clearly shows snow cover in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin and bare ground in most of southern half of Minnesota. Note the detail on frozen lakes.
Balmy weekend
Our February heat wave eases slightly this weekend, but temperatures will still push well into the 50s and low 60s across southern Minnesota. The south metro may approach 60 degrees again Sunday and Monday.
Record warm overnight lows
Keep this in mind. Our average high temperature this weekend at MSP is still below freezing, at 30 degrees. The Twin Cities may not dip below freezing again, even at night, until next Friday! That's just plain crazy-town for Minnesota in February. We'll see several more records fall in the next five days.
Monday rain and thunder?
The next low-pressure storm arrives Monday with rain, and maybe even a clap of thunder.
Wintry relapse late next week?
Our balmy run continues through next Wednesday. We may hit 60 again Monday. After that signs of a wintry system continue to present for next Friday. More typical late winter temperatures look likely as we turn the calendar to March.
Rain to snow next Friday?
From 60s and sunny to snow in one week? Only in Minnesota.
The latest read on next Friday's growingly likely weather system is for a rain to snow scenario for the Twin Cities, with heavier snowfall north. The track can and probably will shift by next week, and that would have major forecast implications. As always a week out, use at your own risk. I'll let others forecast a foot of snow for the Twin Cities a week in advance.
Meanwhile in L.A.
Stay thirsty Minnesota.