Thursday, January 8, 2026  2:00 AM 

Prepared by Bob Weisman, SCSU Meteorologist and Professor Emeritus

One More Day of Melting

Sunshine Meant 40's Yesterday...

We got rid of the Tuesday night fog during the early morning hours of Wednesday, allowing a day with plenty of sunshine. That produced highs in the upper 30's to lower 40's in most of central and southern Minnesota (see yesterday's 3 PM NWS WPC North America zoom-in map). The winds calmed again overnight, so we are having another episode of dense fog this morning (see stations with horizontal lines on the NWS Aviation Weather Center METAR map). Some visibility in central Minnesota is down to a quarter mile (see visibility on the NWS Minnesota hourly weather round-up) and there is the possibility of some patchy freezing drizzle and rime again where visibility is the lowest this morning. The National Weather Service has a dense fog advisory in central, east central, and northeastern Minnesota, extending from the Twin Cities, Benson, and Willmar through Duluth and the Arrowhead. The advisory is in effect in central Minnesota until 8 AM, but extends to 11 AM from Brainerd and Aitkin northeastward. Icy spots are few and far between on main roads (see MnDOT Minnesota road conditions), but expect the chance for spotty icy spots on untreated driveways, sidewalks, and parking areas.

Still Have a Shot at Upper 30's to Near 40 Once Fog Eases Today

We have one more really mild day ahead. How mild depends on how quickly the fog will dissipate, but I would favor another high in the upper 30's to near 40.

Major Storm Far Enough to South for Only Minor Central Minnesota Consequences Friday and Saturday

Then, the storm from the Southwest (see College of DuPage North America water vapor loop) will move into the Plains states by tomorrow. The computer forecasts have trended a bit to the north and west with the storm track through northern Missouri and eastern Iowa, but the northern edge of the heavier precipitation is expected only in Winona, LaCrosse, and Preston (see Days 2-3 of the NWS WPC quantitative precipitation forecast) and much of that precipitation will be rain on Friday night, changing to a short period of snow just before ending during the early morning hours. The main concern in southeastern Minnesota is that there may be a period of freezing rain as temperatures fall. St. Cloud and even the Twin Cities would only see a small chance of a few flurries or perhaps a snow shower late Friday night into early Saturday.

On Saturday, an upper-air low pressure system from the southeast Alaska coast (see Pacific mid-tropospheric water vapor loop from Colorado State satellite slider) will move into Minnesota and intensify. However, it still appears that a second system from the California coast won't cooperate with the northern low until they arrive in Michigan or Ontario on Sunday. While that has the potential to produce some snow in Wisconsin Saturday and major snow from Michigan eastward Sunday, none of the large amount of moisture will reach Minnesota. That will most leave a chance for light snow or flurries in central Minnesota on Saturday. I only have the potential for between a dusting and an inch in all but southeastern Minnesota (see mostly green, less than 40% chance for an inch, when you set the tab to 00 UTC Sun, 6 PM Sat, on the NWS WPC probabilistic winter precipitation guidance).

Cooling Trend to Colder Than Average Saturday PM Through Sunday

The first system will push the very mild air further to the south, so I expect tomorrow's high to remain in the 20's. The northern low will bring some colder air to Minnesota from the second half of Saturday through Sunday. Early morning temperatures on Saturday will be in the 20's, but temperatures will fall back to the teens by midday and stay there during the afternoon. Lows will drop to the plus single digits by Sunday morning with enough breeze to produce wind chills between -15 and 0. Sunday's high will be in the teens.

Mild Again At Least Monday, Colder by Mid-Week

This cold interlude will end on Sunday night, as temperatures will rise into the 20's before falling back to the teens early Monday. We have the potential for another 40-degree high on Monday. The fast-moving steering winds will revert to a more northwest-to-southeast direction during the middle of next week, so there will be a better chance of colder temperatures, but the computer forecasts do not agree on how cold we would be.

Cold and Snowy December Can't Overcome Warm 2025

The 2025 Annual and December weather summary is now available. The December headline is the snowy (16.3 inches, 5th snowiest) and cold (only the second month since April 2023 that was colder than average), but 2025 overall was another mild year with a swing between late spring and early summer rain and persistent humidity to late summer and fall dryness. There was unusually intense warmth in May and in September and October. There was a month of severe weather and recurring outbreaks of smoke from Canadian wildfires, but the spring rains kept Minnesota from more wildfire problems than we had in May. And, 2025 was one of 17 years more than a degree milder than average since 1997.

Detailed St. Cloud, MN, and Vicinity Forecast

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

Thursday 1/8/2026: Some early low clouds and fog, then some midday partial sunshine, but increasing clouds during the afternoon. High: between 35 and 40. Winds: NE 5-15 MPH. Chance of measurable precipitation: 10%.

Thursday Night: Cloudy with a slight chance for a snow flurry or snow shower during the evening, then partial clearing after midnight, breezy, and cooler. Low: between 15 and 20. Winds: N 8-15 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 20%.

Friday 1/9/2026: Partly sunny and back to seasonable January coolness. High: between 23 and 28. Winds: NW 5-10 MPH during the morning, SW 5-10 MPH during the afternoon. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

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

Friday Night: Cloudy with a chance for a snow shower or flurry. Low: between 20 and 25. Winds: SW 5-10 MPH evening, NW 5-10 MPH early morning. Chance of measurable snowfall: 30%.

Saturday 1/10/2026: Mostly cloudy, turning windy, and colder with a few flurries or some spotty snow showers. Between a dusting and an inch of new snow could be possible. Morning temperatures between 20 and 25, falling into the teens midday through afternoon. Winds: NW 8-15 MPH during the morning, 10-25 MPH during the afternoon. Chance of measurable snowfall: 30%.

Saturday Night: Partly clear, breezy, and colder. Low: between 5 and 10. Winds: NW 10-20 MPH evening, 8-15 MPH during the early morning hours. Wind chill: between -15 and 0. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Sunday 1/11/2026: Partly sunny, breezy, and a little colder. High: between 13 and 18. Winds: NW 5 MPH, becoming SW during the afternoon. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

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

Sunday Night: Cloudy and breezy through the evening, then partial clearing late. A slight chance for a flurry. Not as cold. Temperatures rising into the 20's near midnight, then falling back to the teens late. Winds: SW 5-15 MPH evening, becoming NW late. Chance of measurable snowfall: 20%.

Monday 1/12/2026: Partly sunny, breezy, and milder. High: between 35 and 40. Winds: SW 5-10 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Extended: Turning colder by mid-week??? Little chance of significant precipitation???

Forecast Confidence (10 - "The Rabbits Will Thump Even Though I Fed Them"; 0 - "The Rabbits Will Offer To Groom My Bald Spot"): 8 Thursday, 6 Thursday night, 7 Friday, 4 Friday night, 5 Saturday through Sunday, 3 Sunday night and Monday.

Yesterday's High: 42°F; Overnight Low (through 2 AM Thursday): 25°F
St. Cloud Airport 24-Hour Melted Precipitation (through 2 AM Thursday): Trace; SCSU 24-Hour Precipitation (through 2 AM Thursday): Trace

Next Update: Friday, January 9, 2026 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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