St. Cloud, MN Weather Forecast

Cooling from Near-Record Fri-Sat Warmth

After coming within 3 degrees of Friday's record high and 2 degrees of Saturday's record high (see NWS Twin Cities graph of St. Cloud March high and low temperatures), cooler air moved in yesterday, and we had quite a few daytime clouds (see College of DuPage north central US shortwave infrared satellite loop), and even a couple of spits of morning sprinkles, so afternoon highs were only in the 30's (see yesterday's NWS WPC 4 PM CDT North America zoom-in map).

More Heat in Southwest This Week.....

However, the general flow pattern continues to be west-to-east around the Southwest US high pressure (clockwise circulation on the College of DuPage North America mid-level water vapor loop) that has been producing the extreme heat (not quite as hot, but still 90's in the Southwest; see yesterday's NWS WPC 4 PM CDT North America zoom-in map). That high is expected to build northward again during the work week, creating more problems for the Southwest and even the Rio Grande Valley (see NWS Heat Risk forecast). That will put the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Iowa near the front separating the cooler air we have now from the much warmer air to the south (see developing front in eastern Montana on the latest NWS WPC North America zoom-in map).

...With Warmer Air Reaching Minnesota Tues-Wed

There will be another northward surge, allowing southern and parts of central Minnesota to get back into the warm air, with readings returning to the 50's tomorrow (60's in southern Minnesota) and to 60 or into the 60's Wednesday (some 70's again in southern Minnesota).

Significant Snow Chance Near the Border (or Even in Northern Minnesota)

However, the front will be stalled across northern and perhaps central Minnesota. That will put a chance of some precipitation somewhere either in northern Minnesota or across the Canadian border. As we get to the middle of the week, that precipitation chance will turn to snow with a chance of enough snow to shovel and plow by mid-week (see the most northern possible position of the colored area expand as you move the tab from 00 UTC Tues, 7 PM CDT Mon, to 00 UTC Wed, 7 PM CDT Tues, to 00 UTC Thurs, 7 PM CDT Wed on the NWS WPC probabilistic winter precipitation guidance). To the south of the snow area, there will be a chance for some mixture of rain, freezing rain, and snow, especially Wednesday night.

....But Merely a Few Showers in Central Minnesota Wed Nt-Thu

This front will push back to the south on Wednesday afternoon and evening. The timing of the front will determine how warm central Minnesota gets on Wednesday. Parts of central Minnesota will have a shot at some showers Wednesday night with that front. Right now, the temperatures are expected to be mild enough to produce light rain showers late Wednesday night or early Thursday, but there is a small chance of some frozen precipitation as well.

Cooler End of Week, but Even Stronger Warming Weekend Into Next Week

The main effect will be cooling for Thursday. Morning temperatures could climb into the 40's, but they will fall back to the 30's during the afternoon. It will be quite breezy again.  The cooler spell will hang on for Thursday night (lows in the 20's, maybe even near 20) and Friday (highs near 40). Still, expect another weekend surge of the warmer air and that warmth could hang around longer through the first part of next week. Since the warm air will be pulled down the eastern slopes of the Rockies, there isn't any day with a good chance for significant precipitation into next week (see NWS WPC quantitative precipitation forecast).