You’ve seen the memes. The ones where someone in a parka is grilling in a snowbank because it "finally hit thirty degrees." Honestly, that’s basically where we’re at with the extended forecast Minneapolis Minnesota. After a January start that felt suspiciously like spring, the honeymoon is over. The sky is turning that familiar shade of "Stairwell Grey," and the thermometer is about to take a nosedive that’ll make your furnace sweat.
Basically, if you haven’t dug out the heavy-duty wool socks yet, do it tonight.
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The Immediate Reality Check
Right now, we’re sitting at a relatively cozy 29°F, but the northwest wind at 15 mph is already cutting through light jackets. It feels more like 18°F. That’s the "before" picture. Looking at the next 24 hours, Wednesday is going to be one of those classic Minnesota tricks. It’ll be sunny, which is great for the soul, but the high is only hitting 19°F.
The low? A crisp 9°F.
You’ll want to watch out for Thursday. That’s when things get interesting. We’re looking at a high of 34°F, which sounds nice until you realize it’s bringing snow showers with a 35% chance of precipitation. It’s that heavy, wet stuff that’s a total pain to shovel. By Friday, those snow showers stick around with a high of 32°F and a low of 8°F.
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Why the Extended Forecast Minneapolis Minnesota is Getting Brutal
If you’re wondering why your weather app is suddenly screaming at you, blame the Arctic. We’ve been spoiled by a "balmy" January so far, with temps running 5 to 10 degrees above average. But a cold front is blowing through, and it’s dragging subzero territory behind it.
The National Weather Service is tracking what they call a "clipper wave train." Think of it like a literal train of small storms. One hits Thursday, another Friday, maybe another Saturday. None of them are "The Big One," but they’ll drop a few inches here and there—likely 2 to 4 inches total by the time Saturday morning rolls around.
The Deep Freeze Is Coming
Here is where the extended forecast Minneapolis Minnesota actually gets kinda scary. Once we hit Sunday, Jan 18, the Arctic air mass really settles in. We’re talking highs of 13°F and lows of 2°F.
But wait, it gets "better." Monday and Tuesday (Jan 19-20) are looking at highs of only 9°F. Monday night’s low is predicted to hit -1°F. Tuesday morning could be the coldest of the year so far. Some models are even whispering about temps between -10°F and -20°F in the suburbs. That’s the kind of cold where your car makes noises you didn't know it could make.
What to Actually Expect (Prose Breakdown)
Instead of looking at a boring chart, let's walk through the next week. Tomorrow, Wednesday, is sunny but cold. Dress for 19 degrees. Thursday is your "buffer day"—cloudy and 34°F, but the snow starts. Friday stays around freezing with more snow showers.
The weekend is the transition. Saturday is mostly cloudy and only 9°F. Sunday sees the snow return with a high of 13°F. By the time Monday hits, we’re back in the single digits for the highs. If you have outdoor plans for Jan 19th or 20th, maybe move them to... July? Honestly, it's going to be a struggle to get out of the single digits those days.
Expert Nuance: The La Niña Factor
Metereologists like Chris Shaffer and the folks at the NWS Twin Cities have been watching the La Niña pattern all season. Basically, La Niña usually means colder and wetter for the Northern Plains. While we had a weirdly warm start to the month—including that record-breaking rain on Jan 8-9 that saw over 2 inches in some spots—we are finally seeing the "typical" winter reassert itself.
The Climate Prediction Center says there's a 75% chance we transition to "ENSO-neutral" soon, but for the rest of January, the cold is the boss.
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Misconceptions About Minneapolis Snow
People always ask, "Is it going to be a blizzard?" Usually, no. Most of our snow comes in these "clippers"—fast-moving systems that drop a manageable amount. The danger isn't usually the depth of the snow; it's the plummeting temps right after. When it hits 34°F and snows, then drops to -1°F the next night, the roads turn into a skating rink.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your tire pressure: Cold air makes it drop. Do it before the -20°F wind chills hit next week.
- Salt the driveway Thursday: Get ahead of that 35% snow chance before it freezes into a sheet of ice on Friday night.
- Gas up now: You don't want to be standing at a pump when the high is 9°F on Monday.
- Emergency kit check: Make sure you've got a blanket and a shovel in the trunk. It’s better to have it and not need it.
The second half of January is definitely living up to its reputation as the most frigid time of the year. Stay warm, keep the bird feeders full, and maybe find a good book for next Tuesday. You won't want to be outside.