Friday, February 6, 2026  1:30 AM 

Prepared by Bob Weisman, SCSU Meteorologist and Professor Emeritus

Turning Colder (Through Tomorrow) and Windy (Today) But No January Rerun

Arctic Air Back in North America, But Has No Path to Minnesota for the Next Week

The coldest of the cold air has now recharged in far north central Canada (see Alicia Bentley Northern Hemisphere 850 mb equivalent potential temperature) and will continue to get colder, since it will remain near the central Arctic Ocean coast (use right arrow to advance in time). That means there may be a chance for air as cold as we had during the second half of January, but it is not guaranteed.

In the mean time, Minnesota still has northwest-to-southeast flow (see College of DuPage North America clean infrared loop), but that flow is now coming from the Alberta-British Columbia border, so we will continue to alternate between near average cold and milder than average weather.

High Temperature Early This Morning, With Colder, Windier Conditions During Daylight

Early this morning, temperatures were near or above freezing (see NWS Aviation Weather Center METAR map), but near average temperatures will work their way into Minnesota today, so temperatures will fall back to the 20's by mid-morning, then slowly decline to the middle and lower 20's as today goes on.

There have been some light snow showers across north central and northeastern Minnesota (see College of DuPage north central radar loop), but not all of the precipitation is making it to the ground (see NWS Aviation Weather Center METAR map). Still, temperatures will fall back below freezing, so any wet snow coating could create some patchy ice in northern Minnesota for the morning commute (see MnDOT Minnesota road reports).

The northwest winds will pick up to 10-25 MPH with some gusts over 30 MPH (see NWS Minnesota hourly weather round-up, for the latest temperature, winds and wind gusts, and wind chills), but wind chills will be above zero. We will have a shot at our third zero or colder February low tonight (32 for the cold season so far).

Next Wave of Milder Weather Saturday Night Through Monday

By Saturday afternoon, temperatures will be back in the seasonable 20's. Sunday (highs in the lower 30's) and Monday (highs near 40) will be our next mild days. Where the snow cover is gone (central Dakotas and west), highs will get into the 50's, 60's, and possibly even the 70's Sunday and Monday.

Uncertain Chance for (Light) Snow From Early Week Cold Front

Temperatures will head back towards average (highs in the 20's) by next Wednesday. There is a chance of a little light snow or flurries in a narrow band of Minnesota on the way down during Monday or Tuesday. The computer forecasts have been inconsistent with the timing and track for this low, so it is uncertain whether we will have little or no snow, or the chance for a light accumulation (see Days 4-5 of the NWS WPC quantitative precipitation forecast).

Average to Mild Temperatures Will Continue Next Week

Beyond mid-week, the forecast is really uncertain, except that temperatures will likely remain in the near average to milder than average range. The long-range forecasts have switched from a major storm pushing into the Rockies late next week to high pressure building over the Rockies late next week, so I am not trusting the result right now.

You can find the January 2026 St. Cloud weather summary here.

Detailed St. Cloud, MN, and Vicinity Forecast

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

Friday 2/6/2026: A few early clouds, then becoming partly sunny, windy, and a bit colder. Pre-dawn temperatures in the 30's, falling into the 20's by sunrise and holding in the 20's the rest of the day. Winds: NW 10-25 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Friday Night: Partly clear early, cloudy late at night, light winds, and colder. Low: between 0 and +5. Winds: NE 5 MPH evening, SE 5 MPH early morning. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Saturday 2/7/2026: Sunshine through high clouds during the morning, cloudy during the afternoon, breezy, and seasonably cold. A slight chance for a flurry. High: between 20 and 25. Winds: SE 8-15 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Saturday Night: Partly to mostly cloudy. Low: between 10 and 15. Winds: SE 5-10 MPH evening, SE 5 MPH early morning. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Sunday 2/8/2026: Sunshine through high clouds and milder. High: between 30 and 35. Winds: S 5-10 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Confidence Level: "Extra Bugs Will Come from Every House on My Block to Make a Cloud Around My Head"

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy and milder. Low: between 23 and 28. Winds: S-SW 5 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Monday 2/9/2026: Sunshine through high clouds and even warmer. Maybe a late day flurry. High: between 37 and 42. Winds: NW 5-10 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 20%.

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

Monday Night: Cloudy, light winds, and mild with a chance of light snow or flurries. Low: between 25 and 30. Winds: N 5 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 30%.

Tuesday 2/10/2026: A chance of early light snow or flurries, then partial clearing, breezy, and a bit colder. High: between 32 and 37. Winds: NW 8-15 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 20%.

Extended: Back to seasonable cold into Wednesday?? Average to above average temperatures through next weekend???

Forecast Confidence (10 – "The Rabbits Will Thump Even Though I Fed Them"; 0 – "The Rabbits Will Offer To Groom My Bald Spot"): 9 Friday, 8 Friday night and Saturday, 7 Saturday night and Sunday, 5 Sunday night through Monday, 3 Monday night and Tuesday. 

Yesterday's High: 37°F; Overnight Low (through 2 AM Friday): 32°F; High so far today (through 1 AM): 35°F;

St. Cloud Airport last 24-Hour Precipitation (through 1 AM Friday): None; SCSU 24-Hour Precipitation (through 1 AM Friday): None

Next Update: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 6 AM

Comments

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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