Wednesday, January 28, 2026  2:35 AM 

Prepared by Bob Weisman, SCSU Meteorologist and Professor Emeritus

Settling for Plus Single Digit Days Through Friday

How Cold Have We Been

Temperatures climbed back above zero yesterday afternoon (see NWS: last 72 hours of St. Cloud observations) after a morning below zero. The winds were quite strong through the morning with a top wind gust of 44 MPH at 4:10 AM.

So, dropping below zero both yesterday morning and overnight (see 7-day graph of St. Cloud temperature from MesoWest) have run the number of sub-zero mornings in January to 11. The seasonal total is now up to 25 days. The average for the entire season is 42.7 days. That accompanies the sub-zero highs reaching 3 days (average: 4.3 days). Both last Saturday and Sunday had lows colder than -20 with the coldest being -26 on Sunday morning, so the season total is now 3 days (average: 5.4 days). Still, the -27 low of January 21, 2025 was colder. Friday's -10 degree high was the first high temperature of -10 or colder since January 30, 2019.  

We will continue our slight moderation of the cold today through Friday. Since our flow continues to be northwest to southeast (see College of DuPage North America mid-level water vapor loop). We've used up the coldest of the cold air, but there are still lobes of colder than average air in south central Canada that will move into Minnesota by Thursday and Friday (use the right arrow to step back on the Alicia Bentley 850 mb equivalent potential temperature map). So, our highs will be in the plus single digits to near +10, still around 15 degrees colder than average. Our lows will remain in the minus single digits to perhaps the minus teens. 

We will see temperatures moderate over the weekend with Saturday's high likely in the teens and 20's possible as early as Sunday. The near average temperatures should continue into early next week.

This cold outbreak finally dropped the January 2026 St. Cloud average temperature to a bit below  average through Monday. Given the colder than average temperatures expected through the work week, the final average will be around one to two degrees colder than average. 

Summary of Southern Plains to Northeast Storm

To add to the misery of the aftereffects of the major storm and subsequent cold, three kids fell through the thin ice on a pond in Texas Monday. Dozens of people have died in this storm and the following cold.

And, there is the potential of another major snow storm this weekend. The track of the storm is uncertain, but the East Coast states from the Carolinas to the mid-Atlantic to possibly New England (see Days 4-5 of the NWS WPC Days 4-7 winter weather outlook and the Days 3-5 NWS WPC quantitative precipitation forecast) could be hit by major snowfall.

Detailed St. Cloud, MN, and Vicinity Forecast

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

Wednesday 1/28/2026: Partly sunny, not as windy, but still colder than average. High: between +4 and +8. Winds: NW 5-10 MPH. Wind chill: between -25 and -10 during the morning. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Wednesday Night: Partly clear, light winds, and continued cold. Low: between -15 and -8. Winds: NW 5 MPH. Spotty wind chill: between -30 and -15. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Thursday 1/29/2026: Mixed sun and clouds, light winds, and still cold. High: between +4 and +8. Winds: NW 5-10 MPH. Spotty wind chill: between -25 and -10 during the morning, between -10 and 0 during the afternoon. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Thursday Night: Partly to mostly cloudy, light winds, and a shade colder. Low: between -15 and -10. Winds: NE 5 MPH. Spotty wind chill: between -30 and -15. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Friday 1/30/2026: Clouding up with a slight chance of a flurry. Continued cold. High: between +2 and +7. Winds: N-NW 5-15 MPH. Spotty wind chill: between -30 and -10 during the morning. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

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

Friday Night: Cloudy with a chance of flurries or light snow evening, partial clearing late at night. Low: between -12 and -5. Winds: NW 5 MPH. Spotty wind chill: between -25 and -10. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Saturday 1/31/2026: Partly sunny and a shade milder. High: between +10 and +15. Winds: NW 5 MPH. Spotty wind chill: between -20 and -5 morning. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

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

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, light winds, and not quite as cold. Low: between -5 and 0. Winds: light evening, S 5 MPH. Spotty wind chill: in the minus teens. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Sunday 2/1/2026: Sunny through the morning, some afternoon clouds with perhaps a flurry, breezy, and finally back to seasonable temperatures. High: between 20 and 25. Winds: S 8-15 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 20%.

Extended: Average to colder than average temperatures early next week?? Little chance for significant precipitation??  

Forecast Confidence (10 – "The Rabbits Will Thump Even Though I Fed Them"; 0 – "The Rabbits Will Offer To Groom My Bald Spot"): 9 Wednesday, 8 Wednesday night and Thursday, 6 Thursday night and Friday, 5 Friday night and Saturday.

Yesterday's High: 7°F; Overnight Low (through 2 AM Wednesday): -7°F; Top Wind Gust (through 2 AM Wednesday): 44 MPH at 4:10 AM Tuesday;

St. Cloud Airport last 24-Hour Precipitation (through 2 AM Wednesday): Trace; SCSU 24-Hour Precipitation (through 2 AM Wednesday): Trace; Coldest Wind Chill (through 2 AM Wednesday): -23°F at 6 AM Tuesday

Next Update: Thursday, January 29, 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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