Tri-County News

Above average temps and light snow possible Saturday


Mark Anthony Meteorologist

We have experienced some freezing fog across the state of Minnesota in recent days. On Saturday much of the region had some hoarfrost. This is always a beautiful sight in the winter months.

What causes hoarfrost? Ground frost forms when the air is calm and cold. This usually happens on clear nights during the winter. It is formed by direct condensation of water vaper to ice as temperatures drop below freezing and occurs when air is brought to its frost point by cooling. 

Hoarfrost is a “common occurrence” across the northern part of the United States, but it is almost nonexistent in warmer parts of the country. It is always beautiful when it deposits on tree branches, grass, and other objects.

We will have snow rather than hoarfrost possible Tuesday night into Wednesday. Temperatures will be above average for the rest of the week and into the weekend.

Another system could bring some light snow by Saturday. Temperatures should be in the mid- to upper-20s on Saturday and cool off slightly by Sunday.

Enjoy the first weekend of 2021 and drive carefully.

Weather history: On this date in 1942 temperatures went from bitterly cold to very mild for this time of the year in one day. For example, in Pipestone the temperature climbed from 32 below zero to 41 above in a 24-hour period.

Weather facts: As cold, dry air from the poles comes in contact with warm, moist air of the mid-latitudes, you get a dramatic weather change that we often refer to as a cold snap.

MN AT A GLANCE:

Moorhead Low 24 High 30

Duluth Low 22 High 30

Central Minn. Low 25 High 31

Twin Cities Low 28 High 33

Marshall Low 28 High 35

Rochester Low 27 High 34

Wednesday: Cloudy, 40% chance of lingering snow mainly early. High 31 Low 19 Winds: ESE 10-15 mph Prec. Trace-.20”

Today’s sunrise: 8:03 a.m.

Today’s sunset: 4:53 p.m.

Normal High: 17

Normal Low: 0

Light snow will be possible Tuesday night into Wednesday across much of the region. Temperatures will remain above average for the first week of 2021. Another weak system could bring some additional light snow by Saturday.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy. High 27 Low 20 Wind: SE 5-10 mph Prec. None

Friday: Mostly cloudy to cloudy. High 26 Low 19 Wind: S 5-10 mph Prec. None

Saturday: Mosty cloudy to cloudy, 30% chance of snow. High 27 Low 17 Wind: WNW 5-10 mph Prec. Trace-.20”

Sunday: Partly to mostly cloudy. High 22 Low 13 Wind: W 5-10 mph Prec. None

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *