Tuesday, March 24, 2026 1:20 AM 

Prepared by Bob Weisman, SCSU Meteorologist and Professor Emeritus

Temperatures Up Today and Tomorrow, Down Thurs-Fri, Up Weekend Again

Minnesota Nearby Parade of Fronts....

The heat is again building from the Southwest (highs in the 80's in Texas to the 90's in the deserts; see yesterday's NWS WPC 4 PM CDT North America zoom-in map), while chilly air is still present from the central Canadian Prairie Provinces to Nunavut and the Northwest Territories (sub-zero afternoon readings there). That temperature contrast is the fuel supply for the fast-moving west-to-east flow seen across most of western North America (see College of DuPage North America mid-level water vapor loop). That's why there's a cluster of fronts near the US-Canadian border to our west. 

...But Little Moisture Around (dry radar echoes yesterday)

The strong high pressure system (clockwise circulation over the Southwestern US) is not only about to produce another bout of extreme temperatures in the Deserts (see NWS Heat Risk), but is also keeping any moisture in the Gulf of Mexico from getting into the Plains (dew points in the 20's and 30's well into Texas; see UCAR hourly dew point chart). So, that system moving through Canada produced radar echoes over Minnesota yesterday afternoon and overnight (see College of DuPage north central US radar loop), but those rain showers in the middle atmosphere couldn't get any rain drops to the ground through the dry air below.

This pattern will continue to produce frequent major temperature shifts as a series of storms pass near Minnesota, but little precipitation, since the air will continue to be dry.

Few Rain Showers Early Thurs in Central MN, Mixed Precipitation to North Wed Nt-Thurs

As I noted yesterday, the best chance of nearby precipitation will be on Wednesday night into Thursday as the next low approaching the Pacific Northwest (see College of DuPage North America mid-level water vapor loop) races through the southern Prairie Provinces. That precipitation chance will be in a narrow band along and to the north of the low pressure track with significant snow possible mostly north of the border (see the colored area expand as you move the tab to 00 UTC Thurs, 7 PM CDT Wed, and 00 UTC Fri, 7 PM CDT Thurs,  on the NWS WPC probabilistic winter precipitation guidance). In northern Minnesota, there will be lighter precipitation (see Days 2-3 on the NWS WPC quantitative precipitation forecast) with a mixture of rain, freezing rain, and wet snow possible in the northern third of Minnesota, perhaps ending with a light snow accumulation in northeastern Minnesota, and a few rain showers across central Minnesota late Thursday night and Friday morning.

Detail of Temperature Ups and Downs

Other that that, look for the temperature roller coaster to continue with:

  • major warm-up today (highs in the 50's) and tomorrow (60's, perhaps 70)
  • cool down Thursday (daytime temperatures near 50) and Friday (highs in the upper 30's to near 40)
  • major warm-up weekend (50's, maybe 60 Saturday; 60's Sunday) and into early next week

The weekend warm temperatures could persist a bit more through the middle of next week, but that forecast is uncertain. 

 

 

Detailed St. Cloud, MN, and Vicinity Forecast

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

Tuesday 3/24/2026: Mixed sun and high clouds, light winds, and warmer. High: between 52 and 57. Winds: SE 5-10 MPH. Chance of measurable rainfall: 10%. 

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy with light winds and continued mild. Maybe some late night fog. Low: between 35 and 40. Winds: S 5 MPH. 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"  

Wednesday 3/25/2026: A cloudy start, then becoming partly sunny and even warmer. High: between 64 and 70 (record warm high: 76 in 1939). Winds: light, becoming SE 5-10 MPH during the afternoon. Chance of measurable rainfall: 10%. 

Wednesday Night: Clouding up, breezy, and mild with a chance for a late night rain shower. Low: between 40 and 45. Winds: shifting to NE and blowing at 5-15 MPH. Chance of measurable rainfall: 40%. 

Thursday 3/26/2026: Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers during the morning, becoming partly cloudy and windy midday and afternoon. Not as warm. High: between 46 and 52. Winds: becoming N-NW 15-30 MPH with gusts to 40 MPH. Chance of measurable rainfall: 40% morning and midday, 10% afternoon. 

Thursday Night: Partly clear, breezy, and turning cooler. Low: between 23 and 28. Winds: NW 10-20 MPH evening, 8-15 MPH late at night. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.  

Friday 3/27/2026: Mostly sunny, still breezy, and cooler. High: between 35 and 40. Winds: NW 8-15 MPH. Chance of measurable precipitation: 10%. 

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

Friday Night: Partly clear, diminishing wind, and continued cool. Low: between 24 and 28. Winds: SW 5 MPH evening, 5-10 MPH late at night. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.  

Saturday 3/28/2026: Sunshine through high clouds, breezy, and back to April-like temperatures. High: between 55 and 60. Winds: SW 10-20 MPH. Chance of measurable precipitation: 10%. 

Extended: Warmer again Sunday into the middle of next week (60's, maybe even 70's)??? Not much chance for significant precipitation??? Cooler second half of next week????????

Forecast Confidence (10 – "The Rabbits Will Thump Even Though I Fed Them"; 0 – "The Rabbits Will Offer To Groom My Bald Spot"): 8 Tuesday and Tuesday night, 5 Wednesday through Friday, 2 Thursday, 3 Thursday night and Friday, 3 Friday night through Monday.     

Yesterday's High: 44°F; Overnight Low (through 1 AM Tuesday): 40°F; 

St. Cloud Airport last 24-Hour Precipitation (through 1 AM Tuesday): None; SCSU 24-Hour Precipitation (through 1 AM Tuesday): None

March 24 Historic Data
Temperature Category High Low

Average Temperatures

 44°F 26°F

Record Temperatures

 78°F (1910) 48°F (1945)
12°F (1923) -22°F (1965)

Next Update: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 6 AM

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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!

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