Tuesday, February 24, 2026  2:15 AM 

Prepared by Bob Weisman, SCSU Meteorologist and Professor Emeritus

Temperatures on the Way Up, But Down Tomorrow

Blizzard Fulfills Worst Expectations

The major East Coast storm (see College of DuPage North America water vapor loop) dumped huge amounts of snow from the Maryland coast into Massachusetts (see NWS snow accumulation reports tables) with 1-2 feet in New York City and Philadelphia, and over 30 inches in Boston, Long Island, and Rhode Island (37.9 inches, a state record). And, the very strong low pressure system produced wind gusts of 60-85 MPH with the higher amounts on the peninsulas or islands on the edge of the Mid-Atlantic and New England. The snow has wound down over all but Maine (see College of DuPage continental US radar loop).

Don't Dress Like You Did Yesterday!

The forecast temperature turnaround is already underway. High temperatures returned to the 20 degree mark yesterday afternoon (see yesterday's 3 PM CST NWS WPC North America zoom-in map), but evening temperatures have remained in the teens (see 14-day graph of St. Cloud observations from MesoWest), thanks to some high clouds (see College of DuPage North America clean infrared satellite loop) and a south breeze (see NWS Aviation Weather Center METAR map).

You can see the much warmer air with the highs from the middle 40's in the western Dakotas to even spotty 50's in Montana (see yesterday's 3 PM CST NWS WPC North America zoom-in map). That milder air will try to get into Minnesota today, but the south wind coming off the snow cover, especially in a strip of Iowa (see NWS NOHRSC snow depth map), will keep high temperatures in the 30's.

The roller coaster of temperatures will continue the rest of this week from today through early next week. Colder air will roll in for tonight (lows back in the plus single digits) and tomorrow (highs near 20)  with strong northwest winds from this afternoon through tomorrow, so wind chills will be in the minus teens tomorrow morning (use the NWS Minnesota hourly weather round-up for the latest winds, temperatures, and wind chills). But, milder air will begin to seep in again Wednesday night (temperatures rising part of the night, getting into the 20's by Thursday morning), producing highs in the 30's again on Thursday. I am being a bit conservative with Friday's highs (upper 30's to perhaps lower 40's) since our air will lose heat melting what's left of the snow to our south.

Then, cooler air will move in again for the weekend (Saturday's highs in the upper teens to near 20, Sunday highs in the lower 20's). 

It looks like another milder period could be here early next week, but I am uncertain how long it will last.  

Snow Chances Small Besides Far Northeastern Minnesota This Work Week

There will be a chance for some more accumulating snow along the eastern portion of the Arrowhead (set tab to 00 UTC Wed., 6 PM CST Tues., on the NWS WPC probabilistic winter precipitation guidance). The National Weather Service has a winter storm warning in Cook County right along Lake Superior and the neighboring hills with lighter snow expected in the rest of northeastern Minnesota. Another plowable accumulation of between 5 and 9 inches is possible in the winter storm warning area (Grand Portage, yes, Hovland, too).

The potential pumping of warm air over the top of the brief Wednesday cool air looks even weaker. Southern Minnesota might have a shot at a light accumulation (between a dusting and a couple of inches) Wednesday night and Thursday (set tab to 00 UTC Fri., 6 PM CST Thurs., on the NWS WPC probabilistic winter precipitation guidance). 

In central Minnesota, both today's system and the Wednesday night system will only create a chance of flurries. 

There is a third chance for some very light snow as the colder air pushes in late Friday night and Saturday morning. At this point, I'm not willing to put out any accumulation.

Detailed St. Cloud, MN, and Vicinity Forecast

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

Tuesday 2/24/2026: A cloudy start with perhaps a flurry, then becoming a mix of clouds and sun midday and afternoon, blustery, and much milder. High: between 30 and 35. Winds: SW 8-15 MPH through mid-morning, becoming NW 20-35 MPH with higher gusts midday and afternoon. Chance of measurable snowfall: 20%.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, blustery through midnight, and colder. Maybe a stray flurry. Low: between 5 and 10. Winds: NW 15-30 MPH into the early morning hours, 8-15 MPH towards morning. Wind chill: between -15 and 0. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Wednesday 2/25/2026: A sunny start, then thickening high and middle clouds, lighter winds, and colder. High: between 18 and 23. Winds: NW 5-10 MPH during the morning, W 5 MPH during the afternoon. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%. 

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

Wednesday Night: Cloudy with a slight chance for light snow or flurries. Not as cold. Low: between 10 and 15, then rising late at night to near 20. Winds: SW 5 MPH during the evening, SW 5-10 MPH during the early morning hours. Chance of measurable snowfall: 20%.

Thursday 2/26/2026: Perhaps an early flurry, then becoming partly sunny and milder. High: between 36 and 42. Winds: SW 8-15 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 20%.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy and milder. Low: between 25 and 30. Winds: SW 5 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Friday 2/27/2026: Sunshine mixed with high clouds and milder. High: between 41 and 46. Winds: SW 5-15 MPH early during the morning, NW 10-20 MPH midday and afternoon. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

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

Friday Night: Partly cloudy evening, mostly cloudy with a chance for flurries late, breezy, and colder. Low: between 12 and 17. Winds: NW 10-20 MPH. Wind chill: near 0. Chance of measurable snowfall: 20%.

Saturday 2/28/2026: Cloudy with a chance for flurries during the morning, partly sunny during the afternoon, breezy, and colder. High: between 15 and 20. Winds: NW 8-15 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 20%.

Extended: Seasonable cold Sunday, then milder 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 Tuesday, 6 Tuesday night and Wednesday, 5 Wednesday night through Friday, 3 Friday night through Sunday, 2 Monday. 

Yesterday's Daytime High: 20°F; Overnight Low (through 2 AM Tuesday): 16°F; 

St. Cloud Airport last 24-Hour Precipitation (through 2 AM Tuesday): None; SCSU 24-Hour Precipitation (through 2 AM Tuesday): None

Next Update: Wednesday, February 25, 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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