Monday, December 29, 2025  2:00 AM 

Prepared by Bob Weisman, SCSU Meteorologist and Professor Emeritus

Snow Warnings Ending by Daybreak, But Slow Improvement in Road Conditions This Morning

Most Snow in Twin Cities, Eastern Minnesota So Far

The snow began near daybreak yesterday, and rotated through central and especially south central and southeastern Minnesota through the early morning hours (set number of frames to 200 on the College of DuPage north central US loop). This left St. Cloud out of the heaviest snow accumulations (6-7.5 inches in the Twin Cities as of 11 PM last night). The 4-5 inches seen in southeastern Minnesota as of mid-evening will also climb as the last of the snow rotates through that area during the early morning hours.

No Travel Advised in Much of Central and Southern Minnesota

However, the strong winds and plunging temperatures have produced major hazards, even in areas receiving lighter snow accumulation. Due to low visibility in blowing snow, MnCOT has urged no travel in a large area of central, west central, southwestern, and south central Minnesota (purple roads on the MnDOT Minnesota road reports). The no travel area begins at New London and Kimball and continues to the west and south. That includes I-35 being closed to the south of Owatonna due to numerous crashes. No travel is advised on I-90 from Austin to the South Dakota border. No travel is also advised in all of eastern North Dakota, including I-90 and I-29. The National Weather Service continues its blizzard warning and winter storm warning until 6 AM in central Minnesota and until 9 AM in south central and southeastern Minnesota.

Even though the snow has ended in central Minnesota and will come to a close in southeastern Minnesota during the early morning hours, it will take a while for travel conditions to improve, since the winds will remain strong through today.

Cold and Wind Producing Wind Chills on the Edge of Serious Range Through This Morning

And, the colder air has moved in. Temperatures began crashing shortly after the snow began yesterday morning (see 7-day St. Cloud temperature graph from MesoWest), reaching the teens by midday and holding around 10 degrees through the evening. Temperatures are already in the plus single digits to our north with temperatures below zero in the Red River Valley (see NWS Aviation Weather Center METAR map). With winds continuing to gust to 30-45 MPH, wind chills have dropped below zero in St. Cloud and in the -25 to -15 range in northwestern and west central Minnesota (see NWS hourly Minnesota weather round-up for latest temperature, visibility, wind gusts, and wind chills). Some readings near -30 are possible by morning in northwestern Minnesota. Keep in mind that exposed skin can freeze in 30 minutes or less in wind chills of -25 or colder.

Temperatures will be no warmer than the plus single digits to perhaps 10 today (see NWS: last 72 hours of St. Cloud observations) and hang closer to zero in northern and western Minnesota. So, we will continue to have some wind chills in the -20's this morning and in the minus teens this afternoon.

Roller Coaster Temperatures With Much Milder Tuesday...

We will break out of the coldest of the cold air for a day on Tuesday. There could be a little bit of light snow or flurries late tonight or tomorrow morning, but it won't be nearly as bad as the storm just ending. The winds won't be as strong and potential snowfall will be limited to between a dusting and an inch. On Tuesday afternoon, temperatures will recover to the 20's with a shot at a near freezing high.

...But Colder New Year's Eve and Day

However, the main reservoir of the arctic air, (not the part which has been producing well-below average temperatures in Alaska and northwestern Canada; see some -40's in central Alaska on yesterday's 3 PM NWS WPC North America zoom-in map), is forecast to swoop from the north central Canadian coast southeastward into Hudson Bay, Ontario, and Quebec by the middle of the week (use right arrows to advance in time the Alicia Bentley 850 mb North America equivalent potential temperature chart). That means another surge of cold air that will extend from Wednesday until Friday. Temperatures will fall back to the upper plus single digits Tuesday night and remain near 10 on Wednesday. The leading edge of the cold air may produce some flurries or a little light snow, but again the potential will be between a dusting and an inch at most. Tuesday night and Wednesday will be breezy, but with only winds of 10-20 MPH, not nearly as windy as yesterday through today.

Make Sure You are Safe in the Cold Wednesday and Thursday Nights

While the winds will lighten on both New Year's Eve and Thursday night, there could be enough clouds to keep low temperatures in the minus single digits with wind chills not lower than the minus teens. Still, if you are out and celebrating the New Year, temperatures and winds will be cold enough to be concerning if you are stuck outside for a long period, and especially if you have a few drinks. So, have that cold weather survival kit in your vehicle. And, if you are giving someone a lift home, make sure to see that the person gets inside before you leave.

Warming Trend Friday into the Weekend

This mid-week sideswipe of the cold will begin to ease on Friday as temperatures should climb back into the teens. During the weekend into early next week, some major temperature swings, like the one from today through Wednesday, will be possible. At that range, I don't trust either the timing of the mild or cold changes or the chances for any snow as each system goes by. So, I'll leave the forecast as milder on Saturday, then uncertain Sunday into next Wednesday.

Ground and Air Travel Links

• Minnesota
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Nebraska
• Iowa
• Wisconsin
• Manitoba
• Ontario
• Air Travel Delays and Cancellations from FlightAware.com

Detailed St. Cloud, MN, and Vicinity Forecast

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

Monday 12/29/2025: Mixed sun and clouds, still windy, and cold with serious wind chills. Pockets of low visibility due to blowing snow in open areas. High: between 5 and 10. Winds: NW 15-30 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH through midday, then 10-20 MPH with gusts over 30 MPH during the afternoon. Wind chill: between -30 and -15 early, between -18 and -3 by late in the day. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Monday Night: Partly clear and cold evening, then some late night clouds and turning a bit milder. A chance for late night flurries or light snow. Low: between -5 and 0 evening, rising back into the plus single digits late at night. Winds: NW 5 MPH evening, SW 5 MPH during the early morning hours. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10% through midnight, 30% towards morning.

Tuesday 12/30/2025: Cloudy and milder with a chance for morning light snow or flurries. Any new snowfall between Monday night and Tuesday will be limited to between a dusting and an inch. Turning breezy and milder during the afternoon. High: between 28 and 33. Winds: SW 5-15 MPH during the morning, NW 10-20 MPH midday and afternoon. Chance of measurable snowfall: 30%.

Tuesday Night: Cloudy, windy, and and turning colder. Perhaps some light snow or flurries towards morning. Low: between 5 and 10. Winds: NW 10-20 MPH. Wind chill: between -15 and -5. Chance of measurable snowfall: 30%.

Wednesday 12/31/2025: Perhaps some early flurries or light snow, then a mixture of clouds and sun and colder. Any new snowfall between Tuesday night and Wednesday will be limited to between a dusting and an inch. High: between 8 and 13. Winds: N 10-20 MPH during the morning, NW 8-15 MPH during the afternoon. Wind chill: between -20 and 0. Chance of measurable snowfall: 30%.

Confidence Level: "Extra Bugs Will Come From Every Home on the Block to Hover Around My Head"

Wednesday Night: Partly clear, light winds, and quite cold. Low: between -5 and 0. Winds: NW 5 MPH. Spotty wind chill: in the minus teens. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Thursday 1/1/2026: A cold start to the New Year. Mixed clouds and sun with perhaps a flurry. High: between +3 and +8. Winds: NW 5-10 MPH. Wind chill: between -20 and -5. Chance of measurable snowfall: 20%.

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

Thursday Night: Partly clear, light winds, and still cold. Low: between -5 and 0. Winds: NW 5 MPH. Spotty wind chill: in the minus teens. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Friday 1/2/2026: Mixed clouds and sun, maybe a flurry, and not quite as cold. High: between 12 and 17. Winds: NW 5-10 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Extended: Back to near average highs on Saturday (20's)??? Temperature roller-coaster continues into early next week??? Uncertain chances for snow???

Forecast Confidence (10 - "The Rabbits Will Thump Even Though I Fed Them"; 0 - "The Rabbits Will Offer To Groom My Bald Spot"): 8 Monday, 7 Monday night, 6 Tuesday, 7 Tuesday night and Wednesday, 5 Wednesday night, 6 Thursday, 3 Thursday night and Friday.

Yesterday's High: 34°F (set at 1:30-3:30 AM Sunday); Yesterday's Daytime High: 33°F (at 6-7 AM); Overnight Low (through 2 AM Monday): 9°F; Top Wind Gust (through 2 AM Monday): 37 MPH at 6:31 PM;
St. Cloud Airport 24-Hour Melted Precipitation (through 2 AM Monday): 0.23 inch; SCSU 24-Hour Precipitation (through 2 AM Monday): TBA; Coldest Wind Chill (through 2 AM Monday): -10°F at 6 PM

Next Update: Tuesday, December 30, 2025 6 AM

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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