Unseasonably cold and windy to start the weekend with gradual improvements on the way

If you have any outdoor plans today, be sure to bundle up as another round of cold temperatures is expected. More clouds than sun will take us through our Saturday with strong, gusty winds sticking around from the northwest as we remain sandwiched between departing low pressure to the east, and an incoming high across the Plains. Scattered flurries can’t be ruled out as a surface trough exits to the southeast, otherwise highs this afternoon will stay well below average in the mid-20s with it feeling like we’re in the single digits and low teens above zero during the day. Any clouds will clear out early tonight as high pressure begins to take hold over the region. Winds will relax somewhat, but still remain breezy as they gradually shift out of the west with overnight lows dropping back into the teens and single digits.

Plenty of sunshine can be expected into tomorrow with breezy winds from the west and southwest as we start to get behind high pressure. Temperatures will begin to moderate with most places reaching into the 30s to close out the weekend. Monday will feature a blend of sun and clouds with a cold front and weak low stalling out just north of the Chippewa Valley. As it looks right now, the boundary will then sag a little more to the south Tuesday with scattered rain and snow showers possible in the vicinity of the front as an upper-level shortwave trough works up from the southwest with added lift in the atmosphere. Confidence starts to decrease towards the middle and latter half of next week as long range forecast guidance disagrees on the timing of a large upper trough that looks to carve out along the west coast. As that happens, it appears that a storm system will be taking shape in the Rockies with uncertainty in its track as well as impacts. We will continue watching things over the weekend, but for now, anticipate an active setup around that timeframe. Temperatures through much of next week will remain seasonable in the 40s.

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