Tuesday, January 27, 2026  2:20 AM 

Prepared by Bob Weisman, SCSU Meteorologist and Professor Emeritus

Not Nearly as Cold This Week, But Still Below January Average

Temperatures Back in Plus Territory, and Will Remain There During the Daytimes of the Work Week

The period of temperatures 20 to 30 degrees below average has finally ended (see 7-day graph of St. Cloud temperatures from MesoWest) with two complete days below zero (Friday and Saturday), running the sub-zero highs to 3 so far this cold season (average: 4.3 days). Both 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.

But, yesterday's high returned to 15 degrees (see yesterday's 3 PM NWS WPC North America zoom-in map). There has been a weak low pressure system moving through Minnesota overnight (see College of DuPage North America clean infrared satellite loop), throwing a brief period of flurries into Minnesota (see overnight reports on the NWS Aviation Weather Center METAR map and see College of DuPage north central US radar loop). The main effect of the evening clouds has been to keep temperatures within a few degrees of zero (see NWS Aviation Weather Center METAR map) so low temperatures will merely be in the minus single digits with wind chills in the minus teens (see NWS Minnesota hourly weather round-up). 

Thus far, this cold outbreak has only dropped the January 2026 St. Cloud average temperature to about average (don't forget the very mild temperatures during the first half of the month).

We will continue to have the northwest-to-southeast flow through the work week. There isn't any air quite as cold as what arrived in Minnesota Friday and Saturday (use the left arrow to step back on the Alicia Bentley 850 mb equivalent potential temperature map), but pieces of the leftover cold air in Manitoba today and in Ontario Thursday and Friday will swing into Minnesota. That means high temperatures will likely regress a bit to the plus single digits, perhaps reaching 10 at times through Friday. Lows will be in the minus single digits or minus teens at their coldest (coldest likely Thursday night and perhaps Wednesday night). That would put the wind chills in the minus teens and perhaps -20's at times, but we won't see the consistent serious wind chills we had through the weekend.

Summary of Southern Plains to Northeast Storm

The final snowfall, sleet, and freezing rain totals from the late week major storm are now in with the snow cover in many unusual places and the most in interior New York and New England. But, the clean-up is slow, especially in areas with the ice accumulation that downed power lines. This will likely be a billion dollar plus storm

Summary of Cold Outbreak

Detailed St. Cloud, MN, and Vicinity Forecast

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

Tuesday 1/27/2026: Becoming partly sunny, breezy, and colder, but nothing like the previous weekend. High: between +5 and +10. Winds: WNW 10-20 MPH. Wind chill: between -20 and -5 during the morning, between -15 and -5 during the afternoon. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Tuesday Night: Partly clear through the evening, some clouds late, diminishing winds, and a bit colder. Low: between -10 and -5. Winds: NW 5 MPH. Spotty wind chill: between -25 and -15. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Wednesday 1/28/2026: Continued partly sunny and colder than average with a bit of a breeze. High: between +5 and +10. Winds: NW 5-10 MPH. Spotty 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 -5. Winds: NW 5 MPH. Spotty wind chill: between -30 and -15. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Thursday 1/29/2026: Mixed sun and clouds and a touch colder. High: between +3 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%.

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

Thursday Night: Partly clear, 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 +8. Winds: NW 5 MPH. Spotty wind chill: between -30 and -10 during the morning. 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 of flurries or light snow. Low: between -10 and -5. Winds: NW 5 MPH. Spotty wind chill: between -25 and -10. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Saturday 1/31/2026: A cloudy start with perhaps a flurry, then partial clearing and a shade milder. High: between +10 and +15. Winds: N-NW 5 MPH. Spotty wind chill: between -20 and -5 morning. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Extended: Moderation back to near average temperatures on Sunday?? 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 Tuesday, 8 Tuesday night and Wednesday, 8 Wednesday night and Thursday, 5 Thursday night and Friday, 3 Friday night and Saturday.

Yesterday's High: 15°F; Overnight Low (through 2 AM Tuesday): 4°F; Top Wind Gust (through 2 AM Tuesday): 40 MPH at 8:55 PM Monday;

St. Cloud Airport last 24-Hour Precipitation (through 2 AM Tuesday): Trace; SCSU 24-Hour Precipitation (through 2 AM Tuesday): Trace; Coldest Wind Chill (through 2 AM Tuesday): -32°F at 11 PM Sunday and 1 AM Monday

Next Update: Wednesday, January 28, 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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