Wednesday, January 7, 2026  2:20 AM 

Prepared by Bob Weisman, SCSU Meteorologist and Professor Emeritus

Gloomy Side of Mild Through Friday

Fog Not as Dense, Not As Wide Spread This Morning (Few Icy Spots Possible)

Fog has reformed over much of northern and central Minnesota last evening (see white-ish areas on the College of DuPage north central US shortwave infrared satellite loop). In central Minnesota, there is low visibility (see number to left of double-line fog symbol on the NWS Aviation Weather Center METAR map or check visibility on the NWS Minnesota hourly weather round-up), but there are relatively few reports of visibility under a mile, since the light south wind has been persistent through the night. There is still the chance for patches of icy spots from freezing drizzle where the visibility is lowest, but the icing threat is over a much smaller area than yesterday (see MnDOT Minnesota road conditions).

Persistent Snow Pack Means We Won't See Dakotas-Nebraska-Iowa Warmth

It is frustrating to see high temperatures in the 40's in the western Dakotas and western Iowa with 50's and even 60's in Nebraska (see yesterday's 3 PM NWS WPC North America zoom-in map). The main difference is that the snow cover ends in southwestern North Dakota, northeastern South Dakota, and Iowa (see NWS NOHRSC snow depth map). The melting snow uses up some of the energy that would normally go into heating the ground and the increased moisture in the air tends to produce more low clouds and fog, which is difficult for the sun to break through during the relatively short daylight periods. So, our highs will remain modest, climbing into the middle to upper 30's today and tomorrow, but lows will most likely be 20 degrees or milder, close to the January average high.

Double-Barreled Late Week Storm May Favor Southern Minnesota Rain or Snow Thursday-Thursday Night, Some Light Snow Chances Saturday

The potential late week storm computer forecasts continue to jump around, concentrating on two possible periods of precipitation in the Northern Plains area. The first wave will come Thursday and Thursday night. There is still a spread in the location of the precipitation band, but that spread is mostly between south central and southeastern Minnesota and Iowa. And, one of the computer forecasts is trending northward with the band. However, keeping the two storms separate means that cold air will have a hard time getting involved in the first wave of precipitation, so either snow or rain are possible if the precipitation band is in southern Minnesota. Further to the north, I have a 1 in 3 shot at a light snow shower or flurry, in case the wobbling band ends up further to the north.

The second wave of precipitation will come as a northern low intensifies over Minnesota. There is also a storm in the southern storm track coming from the California systems (see College of DuPage North America water vapor loop), but it appears that these systems won't work together until the precipitation is well past Minnesota. That will keep the rich moisture out of Minnesota. So, I have a chance for some flurries or snow showers Friday night into Saturday (see Days 4-5 on the NWS WPC quantitative precipitation forecast). I still have fairly low confidence in the forecast, given the variation in the computer forecasts.

...And Colder Weekend

It does appear that we will get colder as the pair of late week storms go by, so highs will likely be back below freezing on Friday, in the 20's Saturday, and in the teens on Sunday. There will be enough wind Saturday night to drop the wind chills into the minus single digits, perhaps the minus teens. However, we will still have the potential for major temperature swings early next week with another mild day possible Monday. During the second half of next week, there are signs of a longer period of colder air, but how cold remains uncertain.

Cold and Snowy December Can't Overcome Warm 2025

The 2025 Annual and December weather summary is now available. The December headline is the snowy (16.3 inches, 14th snowiest) and cold (only the second month since April 2023 that was colder than average) month, but 2025 overall was another mild year with a swing between late spring and early summer rain and persistent humidity to late summer and fall dryness. There was unusually intense warmth in May and in September and October. There was a month of severe weather and recurring outbreaks of smoke from Canadian wildfires, but the spring rains kept Minnesota from more wildfire problems than we had in May. And, 2025 was one of 17 years more than a degree milder than average since 1997.

Detailed St. Cloud, MN, and Vicinity Forecast

Confidence Level: "The Bugs Are Waiting for Me to Mow the Lawn"

Wednesday 1/7/2026: Some early fog and spotty freezing drizzle, then partly sunny midday and afternoon with above freezing temperatures. High: between 32 and 37. Winds: SW 5-10 MPH. Chance of measurable precipitation: 10%.

Wednesday Night: Partly clear early with some fog possible late. Low: between 20 and 25. Winds: SW 5 MPH evening, SE 5 MPH during the early morning hours. Chance of measurable precipitation: 10%.

Thursday 1/8/2026: Some early low clouds and fog, then some midday partial sunshine, but increasing clouds during the afternoon. A slight chance for a late day shower. High: between 32 and 37. Winds: light through midday, becoming NW 5-15 MPH during the afternoon. Chance of measurable precipitation: 20%.

Thursday Night: Cloudy with a chance for a snow flurry or snow shower during the evening, then partial clearing after midnight, breezy, and still mild. Low: between 20 and 25. Winds: N 8-15 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 20%.

Confidence Level: "Extra Bugs Will Come From Every Home on the Block to Hover Around My Head"

Friday 1/9/2026: Partly sunny and back to seasonable January coolness. High: between 25 and 30. Winds: N 5-10 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Confidence Level: "Enough Bugs Will Fly into My Mouth to Throw Off My Diet

Friday Night: Cloudy with a chance for a snow shower or flurry. Low: between 15 and 20. Winds: W 5 MPH through midnight, NW 5-10 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 30%.

Saturday 1/10/2026: Maybe an early flurry or snow shower, then partial clearing, breezy, and colder. High: between 20 and 25, perhaps falling into the teens during the afternoon. Winds: NW 8-15 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 30%.

Saturday Night: Partly clear, breezy, and colder. A slight chance for a flurry. Low: between 5 and 10. Winds: NW 8-15 MPH. Winds: between -15 and 0. Chance of measurable snowfall: 20%.

Sunday 1/11/2026: Partly sunny, breezy, and a little colder. High: between 15 and 20. Winds: NW 5-10 MPH, becoming SW during the afternoon. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Extended: Roller coaster temperatures next week with a colder second half of the week???

Forecast Confidence (10 - "The Rabbits Will Thump Even Though I Fed Them"; 0 - "The Rabbits Will Offer To Groom My Bald Spot"): 7 Wednesday and Wednesday night, 6 Wednesday night and Thursday, 4 Friday, 3 Friday nigh through Sunday.

Yesterday's High: 30°F; Overnight Low (through 2 AM Wednesday): 21°F
St. Cloud Airport 24-Hour Melted Precipitation (through 2 AM Wednesday): Trace; SCSU 24-Hour Precipitation (through 2 AM Wednesday): Trace

Next Update: Thursday, January 8, 2026 6 AM

Let me know what you think about this forecast and discussion by emailing SCSU meteorology professor Bob Weisman. Please note that I make the forecast, not the weather!

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