Honestly, if you've lived in the Twin Cities long enough, you know that looking at a weather app in mid-January is basically a form of emotional gambling. One minute you're seeing a "balmy" 42 degrees, and the next, you're staring at a purple-shaded map that basically says, "Stay inside or lose a toe."
Right now, the minneapolis 10 day weather is doing exactly that—throwing a massive curveball at everyone who thought they had this winter figured out. We just came off a stretch that felt weirdly like early March. People were walking around Lake Harriet without parkas. But as of Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the atmospheric party is over.
The jet stream is shifting. A cold front is currently sliding through Hennepin County, and it’s dragging a significant temperature drop behind it like a heavy sled. If you haven't swapped your light jacket for the heavy-duty down fill yet, tonight is the night.
The Immediate Shift: Goodbye 40s, Hello Reality
Today started out surprisingly decent with a high near 42°F. It felt fine. Kinda misty, kinda gray, but manageable. However, the National Weather Service (NWS) out of Chanhassen is tracking a sharp transition as we move into tonight.
As the sun goes down, that leftover moisture is going to find a cold pocket. We are looking at a 20% chance of snow showers tonight with a low crashing down to 18°F. That’s a 24-degree swing in about twelve hours.
Wednesday, January 14, is going to be a wake-up call. We’re talking a high of only 18°F. The wind is coming out of the northwest at 13 mph, which means the wind chill—what it actually feels like on your face when you’re walking from the parking ramp to the office—is going to hover in the single digits.
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It gets weirder on Thursday. We usually associate snow with getting colder, but Thursday, Jan 15, is actually going to see a "warm" bump back up to 35°F. It’s a classic Minnesota "overrunning" setup where warmer, moist air slides over the top of the cold dome.
Expect snow. Real snow. Probably about a 40% chance during the day, transitioning into light snow at night. It won't be a blizzard, but it’ll be enough to make the I-35W commute a mess.
The Long-Range Deep Freeze (Jan 17 - Jan 22)
If you’re planning anything for the weekend, you might want to reconsider outdoor plans. Saturday, January 17, is when the "Polar Express" truly arrives.
- Saturday: High of 9°F. Low of 2°F.
- Sunday: High of 12°F. Low of 2°F.
- Monday: High of 13°F. Low of 1°F.
This isn't just "chilly." This is the kind of weather where your nostrils freeze the second you inhale. The humidity will stay around 65-70%, which makes the cold feel "heavy." You've probably noticed that dry, crisp cold is easier to handle than this damp, January gloom.
By Tuesday, Jan 20, we’re looking at a low of 0°F. No, that’s not a typo. Just a flat zero.
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Why This 10-Day Stretch Matters for Your Health
Most people focus on the driving, but the minneapolis 10 day weather has a sneaky impact on your actual well-being. When we jump from 42°F down to 0°F in a matter of days, your body goes into a minor state of shock.
Dr. Mark Seeley, a well-known local climatologist, has often talked about the volatility of Minnesota winters. These rapid transitions are prime time for "winter blues" or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) to kick in because we lose that bright, reflective snow cover during the thaws, leaving us with just gray slush and low UV indices.
Speaking of UV, the index for the next ten days is pegged at a 1. Basically non-existent. You aren't getting any Vitamin D from the sun right now.
Humidity and Your Home
With the temps dropping into the single digits, your furnace is going to be running 24/7. This absolutely nukes the humidity inside your house. If you start waking up with a sore throat or dry skin this weekend, it's not necessarily a cold—it's the 10-day forecast literally sucking the moisture out of your bedroom.
Try to keep your indoor humidity between 30% and 40%. Any higher and you'll get frost on the windows; any lower and you'll feel like a piece of parchment paper.
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The La Niña Factor: Why It’s Not All Bad
You’ve probably heard the weather geeks on the local news talking about La Niña. We are currently in a weak La Niña cycle. Historically, that means Minneapolis gets more snow and slightly colder-than-average temps.
But "weak" is the keyword here.
Because the La Niña isn't super strong this year, we’re seeing these weird "thaw" windows. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) shows a 75% chance of transitioning to a neutral ENSO phase by March. What does that mean for your 10-day outlook? It means this cold snap probably won't last forever.
Unlike the "Polar Vortex" years where we stayed below zero for two weeks straight, this looks like a 4-to-5 day "slap" of cold followed by a slow climb back into the 20s by late next week.
Actionable Survival Steps for the Next 10 Days
Don't just stare at the thermometer and complain. There are a few things you actually need to do before Saturday hits.
- Check your tire pressure today. Physics is a jerk. For every 10-degree drop in temperature, your tires can lose about 1-2 pounds of pressure. If you haven't filled them since it was 40 degrees, your "low tire" light is going to be screaming at you by Friday morning.
- The "Dry Gas" Myth. You don't really need Heet or dry gas in modern fuel-injected cars, but you do need to keep your tank at least half full. Condensation in the empty space of a gas tank can freeze in your fuel lines when it hits 0°F on Tuesday.
- Layers, not bulk. If you’re heading to a Wild game or just walking the dog, remember the base layer. A moisture-wicking synthetic or wool layer against your skin is worth three heavy cotton sweaters.
- Salt your walk before the Thursday snow. Since we’re expecting a mix of rain and snow on Thursday, the ground is going to get wet and then flash-freeze as the temp drops to 10°F that night. Getting some grit down early prevents that "black ice" layer that's impossible to scrape off later.
The reality of the minneapolis 10 day weather is that it’s finally acting like a Minnesota winter. We got lucky in early January, but the bill has come due. Stay warm, keep the de-icer in the car, and maybe stock up on some heavy soup. You're going to need it by Sunday.
Preparation Checklist:
- Refill windshield washer fluid (the -20°F rated stuff).
- Dig out the wool socks for the Jan 17-20 cold snap.
- Check exterior vents for ice buildup if you have a high-efficiency furnace.
- Ensure your emergency car kit has a blanket and jumper cables.