You’ve probably seen the headlines or those hyper-specific calendars claiming to know exactly which Tuesday in March will require a shovel. Honestly, looking at a 90 day weather forecast minneapolis is a bit like trying to predict exactly what your toddler will eat for dinner three months from now. You have an idea of the staples, but the actual day-to-day is pure chaos.
Right now, in mid-January 2026, the Twin Cities are staring down the barrel of a classic Minnesota "bait and switch." We’ve had some uncharacteristically mild days recently, but the atmosphere is currently resetting. If you’re planning a wedding, a construction project, or just wondering when you can finally stop plugging in the car, you need to look at the broad strokes rather than the daily icons.
The La Niña Factor: Is the Cold Finally Here?
We are officially in a weak La Niña cycle. For the uninitiated, that usually means the jet stream is pushed further north, often dumping colder air and more frequent storms right into the Upper Midwest.
However, 2026 is being a bit of a rebel.
The National Weather Service (NWS) and the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) are tracking a transition. While January started weirdly warm, we are moving into a much more "traditional" look for the rest of the winter. Basically, the "weak" part of this La Niña means it doesn't have a firm grip on the steering wheel. We’re likely to see a transition to ENSO-neutral conditions (the "in-between" phase) by the time we hit the tail end of this 90-day window in April.
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Breaking Down the Next Three Months
If you look at the 90 day weather forecast minneapolis, the data suggests a rollercoaster. Here is how the next few months are shaping up based on current climate modeling and historical averages.
January: The Reality Check
The back half of January is where the "polar" part of the North Star State returns. After a thaw that saw temps climb near 40°F earlier in the month, an Arctic front is currently sweeping through. Meteorologists like Paul Huttner are highlighting a sharp shift toward subzero wind chills. Expect the final week of January to be the season's true "hibernation mode."
February: Short, Sweet, and Snowy?
February is often our driest month, but La Niña years tend to buck that trend. The current 90-day outlook leans toward "above-normal" precipitation. In Minneapolis, that almost always means snow rather than rain. Historically, February averages a high of 29°F, but don’t be surprised if we see a few "wildfire" swings where it hits 45°F one day and drops to -10°F forty-eight hours later.
March: The Month of False Hope
March is the absolute worst for your mental health if you live in Hennepin County. It is statistically one of the snowiest months. While the average high climbs to 42°F, the "90-day" view shows a high probability of at least one major late-season blizzard. By late March, the 31-day sliding snowfall average actually starts to drop, but the ground remains a slushy mess.
The Problem With 90-Day Specificity
Let's be real: any app telling you it will be 32°F and sunny on March 14th is guessing. They are using "climatology," which is just a fancy word for "it usually happens this way."
Actual, reliable meteorology loses its "deterministic" power—the ability to say exactly what will happen—after about 10 days. Beyond that, we are looking at probabilities. For the February through April 2026 period, the CPC is currently showing a 33% to 40% chance of below-normal temperatures for our region.
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It’s a slight "tilt" of the scales, not a guarantee.
Why You Should Care About the "Neutral" Transition
The big news for the 2026 spring is the death of La Niña.
When the Pacific Ocean transitions to a "neutral" state, the weather in Minnesota often becomes more volatile. Instead of one long, consistent cold snap, we get "clipper" systems. These are fast-moving storms that drop 2-4 inches of snow and then vanish, followed by a day of blinding sun.
For gardeners, this is the danger zone. A "neutral" spring often leads to a "false spring" where you’ll be tempted to plant your starts in late April, only to have a freak frost in May.
Actionable Survival Steps for the Next 90 Days
Don't just stare at the thermometer. Prepare for the trends.
- Seal the Gaps Now: With the Arctic front arriving in late January, check the weather stripping on your south-facing doors. The wind is going to howl.
- Check Your Ice Melt: February’s "active storm track" means more freeze-thaw cycles. You’ll go through more salt/sand than you did in December.
- Plan Indoor Projects for Late February: This is usually the window where "winter fatigue" hits the hardest. If you have a room to paint, save it for that stretch when the 90-day forecast looks predictably grey.
- Watch the MJO (Madden-Julian Oscillation): If you really want to geek out, watch for MJO phases 6 and 7. When the MJO hits these phases in winter, it almost always precedes a massive cold outbreak in the Midwest about 10 days later.
The 90 day weather forecast minneapolis tells us that while the start of the year was easy, the "bill" is coming due. We are headed for a colder-than-average finish to winter with plenty of opportunities to keep those snow tires on well into April.
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Prepare for the "wild ride" the Farmer's Almanac predicted. It might be mild in pockets, but the "pockets of wild" are definitely on the horizon for the Twin Cities.
Next Steps for Your Winter Prep:
- Monitor the Weekly Updraft reports from MPR for shifts in the Arctic Oscillation (AO).
- Ensure your vehicle’s emergency kit is restocked before the late-January subzero plunge.
- If you’re booking a spring break trip for late March, aim for the final week when the transition to neutral ENSO might bring the most unpredictable local "slush" storms.