Tuesday, December 30, 2025  5:30 AM 

Prepared by Bob Weisman, SCSU Meteorologist and Professor Emeritus

Quieter Weather and Colder Beginning Tomorrow

More Summary of the Blizzard

The blizzard Sunday and Sunday night (also see Minnesota DNR summary of blizzard) gave way to mainly sunny skies yesterday as high temperatures bottomed out in the plus single digits to near 10 (see yesterday's 3 PM NWS WPC North America zoom-in map). The large pressure difference between the Quebec low and the Kansas high continued the strong winds through yesterday midday (see NWS: last 72 hours of St. Cloud observations). The top Minnesota wind was 60 MPH in Morris (see NWS Twin Cities blizzard summary with St. Cloud reaching 40 MPH early yesterday morning. The combination of cold temperatures and persistent winds dropped the wind chill in St. Cloud to the minus teens, while -20's were seen early yesterday in northwestern and west central Minnesota (go back to early versions of NWS hourly Minnesota weather round-up). And the top Minnesota snowfalls were 8-9 inches in the Mankato area and 8 inches in Danube. Northern Wisconsin and the Michigan Peninsula have seen some 1-2 feet accumulations, helped by lake effect snow when the winds became northwest and blew colder air over Lake Superior.

Main roads are still snow covered in parts of south central and southeastern Minnesota where the most accidents occurred. That includes I-35 and I-90 in the Albert Lea area.

In St. Cloud, I measured 4.8 inches, tying the December 28 snowfall record, set in 1982. This snow pushed the total December snowfall to 16.1 inches, the 15th highest December on record. For the season, St. Cloud has seen 24.1 inches, which is the 20th highest Sept-Dec snowfall in St. Cloud records.

Chance for a Little AM Snow....

However, clouds moved in from the northwest overnight (see College of DuPage North America clean infrared loop). These clouds are from a low pressure system that moved through British Columbia into Alberta overnight (see College of DuPage mid-level water vapor loop). Even though there are some reds and yellows moving into the northern Canadian Prairie Provinces, this system doesn't have much moisture associated with it. Even the radar echoes of snow aloft and not reaching the ground aren't that impressive (see the College of DuPage north central US loop and the NWS Aviation Weather Center METAR map). We will see a small chance of some light snow or flurries this morning. If we get any accumulation, the total will remain between a dusting and an inch.

...Then Milder Only for This Afternoon and Evening

The little bit of morning snow is being caused by the wedge of milder air from the Dakotas westward (see NWS Aviation Weather Center METAR map) moving over the leftover cold air. This afternoon, we will have a period in that milder air, so temperatures will return to the upper 20's to lower 30's.

Colder from New Year's Eve Through Friday (But Not as Windy)

Don't count on the milder conditions lasting. The cold front from the Alberta storm will push through by late tonight. There will again be a chance for a few snow flurries or a little light snow (any accumulation again limited to between a dusting and an inch) late tonight into tomorrow morning. However, the colder air will work its way into Minnesota, dropping temperatures after midnight back into the teens and perhaps reaching 10. High temperatures tomorrow will again be in the middle teens with a falling trend toward the plus single digits near sunset. The winds won't be nearly as strong as they were Sunday into Monday, so the worst wind chills will be in the minus teens to near -20 Wednesday afternoon. The winds will ease up tomorrow night, which will allow temperatures to fall into the minus single digits. If there is a stirring of the wind, wind chills will again be in the minus teens.

Make Sure Everyone Gets Inside from the Cold New Year's Eve

Still, if you are out and celebrating the New Year, temperatures and winds will be cold enough to be concerning if you are stuck outside for a long period, and especially if you have a few drinks. So, have that cold weather survival kit in your vehicle. And, if you are giving someone a lift home, make sure to see that the person gets inside before you leave.

The cold will continue during the first two days of January with highs in the plus single digits, perhaps breaking 10 degrees on Thursday. Lows will be in the minus single digits. The worst wind chills will continue to be in the minus teens. There will be another chance for a little light snow or flurries Thursday afternoon into Thursday evening, but it will be another nuisance accumulation of between a dusting and an inch at most.

Slow Warming Trend (Uncertain How Slow)

Milder air will spread over the Dakotas and Nebraska by late in the week, but it is uncertain how quickly Minnesota temperatures will respond. I've already delayed the return of near average highs in the 20's past Saturday (highs in the single digits to 10 on Friday; highs in the teens Saturday). The forecast temperature contrast between Ontario and Nebraska will be large, but the strength of the warm air push depends on weather systems over the Pacific where there is little upper air data. So, I don't have a great idea of how quickly we will moderate and whether there will be other intrusions of cold air. At this point, I'd say the threat of enough snow to shovel or plow looks to be small, but Sunday's system didn't look to be that strong 5 days earlier.

Ground and Air Travel Links

• Minnesota
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Nebraska
• Iowa
• Wisconsin
• Manitoba
• Ontario
• Air Travel Delays and Cancellations from FlightAware.com

Detailed St. Cloud, MN, and Vicinity Forecast

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

Tuesday 12/30/2025: Cloudy with a chance for morning light snow or flurries. Any new snowfall between Monday night and Tuesday will be limited to between a dusting and an inch. Turning milder during the afternoon. High: between 30 and 34. Winds: SW 5-15 MPH during the morning, NW 5-15 MPH during the afternoon. Chance of measurable snowfall: 30%.

Tuesday Night: Cloudy, windy, and and turning colder. Perhaps some light snow or flurries towards morning. Low: between 13 and 18. Winds: NW 8-15 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 30%.

Wednesday 12/31/2025: A chance for morning flurries or light snow, then a mixture of clouds and sun and colder. Any new snowfall between Tuesday night and Wednesday will be limited to between a dusting and an inch. Temperatures holding between 13 and 18, falling towards 10 by late in the day. Winds: NW-N 8-15 MPH. Wind chill: between -20 and 0. Chance of measurable snowfall: 30%.

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

Wednesday Night: Partly clear, light winds, and quite cold. Low: between -5 and 0. Winds: NW 5 MPH. Spotty wind chill: in the minus teens. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Thursday 1/1/2026: A cold start to the New Year. Mostly cloudy with a light snow or flurries during the afternoon. Between a dusting and an inch could accumulate between Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening. High: between 8 and 13. Winds: SW 5-10 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 20%.

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

Thursday Night: Partly clear, light winds, and still cold. Low: between -5 and 0. Winds: NW 5 MPH. Spotty wind chill: in the minus teens. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Friday 1/2/2026: Mixed clouds and sun and still cold. High: between 5 and 10. Winds: NW 5-10 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Friday Night: Cloudy, light winds, and cold. Low: between 0 and 5. Winds: NW 5 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Saturday 1/3/2026: Mixed clouds and sun, light winds, and not quite as cold. High: between 12 and 17. Winds: NW 5-10 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Extended: Uncertain temperatures and small precipitation chances Sunday into early next week???

Forecast Confidence (10 - "The Rabbits Will Thump Even Though I Fed Them"; 0 - "The Rabbits Will Offer To Groom My Bald Spot"): 8 Monday, 7 Monday night, 6 Tuesday, 7 Tuesday night and Wednesday, 5 Wednesday night, 6 Thursday, 3 Thursday night and Friday.

Yesterday's High: 11°F (set at midnight-1 AM Monday); Yesterday's Daytime High: 10°F; Overnight Low (through 5 AM Tuesday): 2°F; Top Wind Gust (through 5 AM Tuesday): 40 MPH at 3:09 AM Monday;
St. Cloud Airport 24-Hour Melted Precipitation (through 5 AM Tuesday): Trace; SCSU 24-Hour Precipitation (through 5 AM Tuesday): Trace; Coldest Wind Chill (through 5 AM Tuesday): -14°F at 7-8 PM Monday

Next Update: Wednesday, December 31, 2025 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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