Above-average temps return, expect 20s and 30s

It has been an interesting ride this winter with a mild December into early January, but then that bitterly cold Arctic blast pushing into the state over the past 10 days or so. Well, now that stretch of bitterly cold weather has come to an end.

The start of this week has turned the corner, and we have been back into the 20s and 30s – that is above zero. I know this has put a smile on most people’s faces. Many pets have struggled too in this bitter cold. Our lab Maggie didn’t even want to go out into the cold some mornings.

We are going to continue to be above-average for temperatures for the rest of the week. How much above normal are we going to be? Well, it looks like those highs should be 5 to 15 degrees above-average for this time of the year. That is a far cry from highs hovering right around zero for much of the last week, and wind chills down to 20 to 40 below zero at times.

How about precipitation chances in the near future? Well, the 8-to-14-day outlook continues to call for below-normal snow or rain for the rest of this month and into early February. I wish I had better news for those of you wanting some measurable snow.

Enjoy the January thaw.

Weather history: On this date in 1925, records show that a solar eclipse passed over Minnesota. Chickens in the Duluth area reportedly were “puzzled by the darkness during the morning” due to the solar eclipse, and “didn’t leave their roosts.”

Weather facts: A January thaw is a mild spell during the month of January in “places where temperatures are below freezing most days!”

MN AT A GLANCE:

Moorhead Low 13 High 31

Duluth Low 24 High 33

Central Minn. Low 18 High 31

Twin Cities Low 27 High 36

Marshall Low 17 High 33

Rochester Low 18 High 32

Wednesday: Cloudy. High 31 Low -2 Wind: S 5-10 mph Prec. None

Today’s sunrise: 7:52 a.m.

Today’s sunset: 5:15 p.m.

Normal High: 20

Normal Low: 2

We will see temperatures above normal for the rest of the week and into the weekend. At this stage, it looks like any moisture will fall across southern Minnesota.

Thursday: Cloudy. High 31 Low 27 Wind: WNW 5-10 mph Prec. None

Friday: Cloudy. High 31 Low 23 Wind: W 5-10 mph Prec. None

Saturday: Mostly cloudy. High 26 Low 21 Wind: WNW 5-10 mph Prec. None

Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 29 Low 18 Wind: SW 10-15 mph Prec. None