Wednesday, March 25, 2026 1:20 AM 

Prepared by Bob Weisman, SCSU Meteorologist and Professor Emeritus

'Don't Dress Like You Did Yesterday' Weather Continues

Warmer Today...

The rapidly-changing temperature pattern (see 14-day graph of St. Cloud temperatures from MesoWest) will vary more quickly from today through the end of the weekend. Yesterday's highs returned to the upper 50's (see yesterday's NWS WPC 4 PM CDT North America zoom-in map), but there were 60's in the western Dakotas. Our air flow continues from west to east (see College of DuPage North America mid-level water vapor loop), bringing air down the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies, so we will see those 60's and perhaps a few 70's today.

...Cooler Thursday and Friday...

However, the next storm pushing into British Columbia (see College of DuPage North America mid-level water vapor loop) will push the really warm air back to our south until the middle of the weekend. Highs will be back in the 40's tomorrow and may have trouble climbing to 40 on Friday. 

...Milder Saturday....Very Warm Again Sunday into Next Week

But, the next northward surge of the warm air to our south will begin aloft on Saturday. Right now, it looks like we will remain in the departing cooler air on Saturday, so we will have a lot of high and middle clouds with highs in the upper 40's to lower 50's. On Sunday, however, we will be back in the warmer air with the potential highs in the 60's and 70's. Those warm temperatures will continue into at least Monday or Tuesday. 

A cooler surge of air is possible sometime for the middle and of next work week. 

Few Rain Showers Early Thurs in Central MN

The best chance of some precipitation over the next 7 days (see Days 1-2 on the NWS WPC quantitative precipitation forecast) is actually nearby already. There have been some light rain showers aloft (radar echoes, but precipitation not reaching the ground; see NWS Aviation Weather Center METAR map) from the high clouds along the US-Canadian border (see College of DuPage North America clean infrared satellite loop). The next chance of rain will be when the cold front associated with those clouds pushes through Minnesota tonight into tomorrow. The temperatures aloft will be marginal for precipitation type. However, the best chance for plowable slush is firmly in southern Manitoba and far western Ontario (set tab to 12 UTC, 7 AM CDT Thurs, on the NWS WPC probabilistic winter precipitation guidance). In northern Minnesota, there will still be a chance for a light mixture of rain, freezing rain, and wet snow  (set precipitation type to freezing rain and time tab to 18 UTC, 1 PM CDT, Thurs on the NWS WPC probabilistic winter precipitation guidance). Central Minnesota will have mainly rain showers with perhaps a stray snow flake mixed in late Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Detailed St. Cloud, MN, and Vicinity Forecast

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

Wednesday 3/25/2026: A cloudy start, then becoming mostly sunny and even warmer. High: between 65 and 70 (record warm high: 76 in 1939). Winds: SW 5-10 MPH, becoming NW late in the day. 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 8-15 MPH. Chance of measurable rainfall: 40%. 

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

Thursday 3/26/2026: Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain showers during the morning. Perhaps a stray snowflake mixed in. Becoming partly cloudy and breezy midday and afternoon. Not as warm. High: between 42 and 47. Winds: NE 5-15 MPH early morning, then becoming NW 10-25 MPH with gusts to 35 MPH. Chance of measurable precipitation: 40% morning and midday, 10% afternoon. 

Thursday Night: Partly clear, breezy, and turning cooler. Low: between 24 and 28. Winds: N 10-20 MPH evening, NW 5-10 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 10-20 MPH. Chance of measurable precipitation: 10%. 

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

Saturday 3/28/2026: Sunshine through high clouds, breezy, and milder. High: between 48 and 53. Winds: SW 8-15 MPH. Chance of measurable rainfall: 10%. 

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

Saturday Night: Partly clear, breezy, and milder. Low: between 32 and 37. Winds: SE-S 5-15 MPH. Chance of measurable rainfall: 10%.  

Sunday 3/29/2026: Sunshine through high clouds, breezy, and back to April-like temperatures. High: between 65 and 70 (record warm high: 76 in 1910). Winds: S 10-20 MPH. Chance of measurable rainfall: 10%. 

Extended: Warmer again Monday into the middle of next week (60's and 70's??? Maybe records??)??? 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 Wednesday, 6 Wednesday night, 5 Thursday, 7 Thursday night and Friday, 4 Friday night and Saturday, 3 Saturday night through Monday.      

Yesterday's High: 56°F; Overnight Low (through 1 AM Wednesday): 45°F; 

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

March 25 Historic Data
Temperature Category High Low

Average Temperatures

 45°F 26°F

Record Temperatures

 76°F (1939) 50°F (1945,2007)
12°F (1955) -8°F (1940)

Next Update: Thursday, March 26, 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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