Cold & Sunny Today then Snowy Friday.

The Bitter Cold will continue in the Twin Cities for the next 7 days until a Weather Pattern Change occurs February 21. The current pattern is an area of Low Pressure ( counter clockwise circulating air ) is remaining stationary over Greenland and Iceland which is taking Arctic Air that is normally in far northern Canada and over Hudson Bay much farther south into the central United States and blocking the Arctic Air from moving back to the north.

Typically Low Pressure areas all across the World are moving +150 miles per day and if that was happening our temperatures in Minnesota would not be so Cold right now as Arctic Air would only be around for 24 to 72 hours. A Pattern Change will occur late next week around February 21 when the Low Pressure area over Greenland and Iceland will move farther east allowing the Arctic Air to move back into far northern Canada and allow Warmer Air from the Pacific Ocean to move east across the lower 48 United States. The return of Pacific Air will bring temperatures back between 30 and 40 degrees above zero in the Twin Cities after February 21.

Today’s Weather in the Twin Cities will be Cold but Sunny with Light Winds from the West at 5 to 10 mph. Air temperatures will be near 7 degrees ( average is 28 degrees ) and afternoon Wind-Chills will be about -5 Below at times. Partly Cloudy Tonight and not as Cold with low temperatures holding around 2 degrees with South Winds at 5 to 10 mph producing Wind-Chills of -5 to -10 Below.

Few Peeks of Sun Friday morning in the Twin Cities after the 7:14 a.m. sunrise otherwise Cloudy with Flurries developing after 9 a.m. then Light Snow from Noon to 1 a.m. Saturday with Snow Accumulations from 1″ to 3″. Most areas of the Twin Cities will see 2″ of Snow but lesser amounts western Metro and higher amounts toward the Minnesota/Wisconsin border. Not as Cold on Friday with the falling Snow as highs climb into the low to mid 20s with Southeast Winds at 5 to 15 mph. Snow ends early Saturday morning with 7 a.m. temperatures around 20 degrees.

Cloudy to Partly Cloudy Saturday morning with temperatures about 20 degrees then Sunny with Increasing Northwest Winds at 10 to 15 mph Saturday afternoon and temperatures falling into the mid teens. Clear and Cold Saturday night into Sunday with Sunday morning lows near -1 Below and Wind-Chills of -10 to -15 Below. Sunny and Cold all Day Sunday with highs near 5 degrees and Wind-Chills at -10 to -15 Below.

Next Week starts Very Cold especially Monday and Tuesday as morning lows will be near -14 Below with Wind-Chills near -28 Below. Lighter Winds and slightly higher temperatures Wednesday but still Cold. Moderating temperatures into the teens Thursday February 20 and 20s Friday February 21 and likely into the 30s into the weekend ( February 22/23 ). JONATHAN YUHAS