Friday, March 20, 2026 2:20 AM 

Prepared by Bob Weisman, SCSU Meteorologist and Professor Emeritus

Two Balmy Days, Then Merely A Return to Average Temperatures

Among the signs that we are getting further into the warm season (12 hours of daylight worldwide due to the March Equinox today), the possibility of daytime temperatures above freezing and overnight temperatures below freezing means that we will soon see the usual spring maple tree sap run.

On Wednesday and Thursday, we had that proper combination of mild highs and sub-freezing lows (see 7-day graph of St. Cloud temperatures from MesoWest). However, we are on the fringe of much warmer air (see highs into the middle and upper 70's in South Dakota on yesterday's 4 PM NWS WPC North America zoom-in map). Since we are located just to the east of the warm front (red line with semi-circles), the air over us has been moistened by the rapid snow melt (down to 2 inches on the ground at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport at 1 PM yesterday), so dew points are above freezing (see NWS Aviation Weather Center METAR map). So, temperatures are not likely to drop below freezing this morning. Tomorrow, the warm front will come through, so the air moving in will again be cooling from a near 80 or high 70's maximum. Since the average range between the high and low temperature in late March is 18 degrees, it will be difficult again for lows to fall below freezing. In fact, it appears that our first day of favorable sap weather will come Monday, the day after cooler air moves in.

While we are still melting the last of the snow in the area, central Minnesota is getting close to the window for lake ice to substantially melt and that will be helped along today (highs near 60) and tomorrow (highs in the 70's). We won't hold on to the warmth Sunday into early next week (highs in the 40's to near 50), but work will be going on.

Otherwise, given how warm it was yesterday, I now think we could approach both the record high temperature for today, March 20 (65), and March 21 (75). Both of those records are more than 110 years old. 

Detailed St. Cloud, MN, and Vicinity Forecast

Confidence Level (high): "The Bugs Are Waiting for Me to Mow the Lawn"

Friday 3/20/2026: Some early fog, then becoming partly sunny and warmer. High: between 58 and 63 (record warm high: 65 in 1910). Winds: N 5-10 MPH. Chance of measurable rainfall: 10%. 

Friday Night: Partly clear with light winds. Maybe some late night fog. Continued unseasonably mild. Low: between 35 and 40. Winds: light evening, SE 5 MPH early morning. Chance of measurable rainfall: 10%. 

Saturday 3/21/2026: Partly sunny, breezy, and even warmer. High: between 70 and 75 (record warm high: 75 in 1911). Winds: SE 5-15 MPH morning, becoming WNW 10-20 MPH during the afternoon. Chance of measurable rainfall: 10%. 

Confidence Level (medium): "Extra Bugs Will Come from Every House on My Block to Make a Cloud Around My Head"  

Saturday Night: Cloudy and windy, but still mild. A slight chance for a rain shower. Low: between 32 and 37. Winds: NW-N 10-20 MPH. Chance of measurable rainfall: 20%. 

Sunday 3/22/2026: Mixed sun and clouds, breezy, and back to near average temperature. A chance for an early flurry or sprinkle. High: between 40 and 45. Winds: N-NE 10-20 MPH during the morning, 5-15 MPH during the afternoon. Chance of measurable precipitation: 20%. 

Sunday Night: Partly clear with diminishing wind and cooler. Maybe some late night fog. Low: between 25 and 30. Winds: light NW evening, light SW late. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%. 

Monday 3/23/2026: Sunshine through high clouds and turning seasonably mild again. High: between 45 and 50. Winds: SE 5 MPH morning, SE 5-15 MPH afternoon. Chance of measurable rainfall: 10%. 

Confidence Level (low): "Enough Bugs Will Fly into My Mouth to Throw Off My Diet"   

Monday Night: Partly clear, breezy, and milder again. A slight chance of a rain shower. Low: between 35 and 40. Winds: S 10-20 MPH. Chance of measurable rainfall: 20%. 

Tuesday 3/24/2026: Mixed sun and clouds and continued milder than average. A slight chance of a rain shower. High: between 48 and 55. Winds: SW 8-15 MPH, shifting to NE by late in the day. Chance of measurable rainfall: 20%. 

Extended: Frequent small chances of uncertain precipitation through the middle of next week??? Roller coaster temperatures likely to continue???

Forecast Confidence (10 – "The Rabbits Will Thump Even Though I Fed Them"; 0 – "The Rabbits Will Offer To Groom My Bald Spot"): 7 Friday and Friday night, 8 Saturday, 5 Saturday night and Sunday, 4 Sunday night and Monday, 2 Monday night and Tuesday.     

Yesterday's High: 56°F; Overnight Low (through 2 AM Friday): 40°F; 

St. Cloud Airport last 24-Hour Precipitation (through 2 AM Friday): None; SCSU 24-Hour Precipitation (through 2 AM Friday): None

March 20 Historic Data
Temperature Category High Low

Average Temperatures

 42°F 24°F

Record Temperatures

 65°F (1910) 56°F (2012)
11°F (1899) -15°F (1965)

Next Update: Monday, March 23, 2026 6 AM

Links

Comments

Let me know what you think about this forecast and discussion by emailing SCSU meteorology professor Bob Weisman. Please note that I make the forecast, not the weather!

Learn Meteorology: Visit Our Department

Are you interested in studying meteorology? If so, go to the Atmospheric and Earth Sciences Department home page.