Mankato, Minnesota 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

371
FXUS63 KMPX 211127
AFDMPX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
527 AM CST Thu Nov 21 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A slippery morning commute is expected with conditions on
  untreated roads likely to be similar to last night.

- A few areas of light rain or drizzle possible in central
  Minnesota and western Wisconsin this afternoon. Temperatures
  will be warm enough to keep it all liquid.

- Cooler temperatures through the middle of next week with highs
  falling into the upper 20s early next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 243 AM CST Thu Nov 21 2024

The morning MPX radar loop continues to show very light returns
amidst the low level stratus, favoring the region south of the
metro as the showers try and wrap in towards the center of the
low pressure system over Lake Michigan. A few stations continue
to report light snow or unknown precipitation, which typically
means either a mist or freezing drizzle light enough to not be
recognized. What this means for us is the road conditions at the
end of the evening commute will continue through this morning`s
commute barring any overnight treatments being done, with a
slow and icy commute expected. Extra time should be taken to get
to any morning destinations, especially if the route includes
an elevated feature such as a bridge or overpass which tend to
hold onto ice better than roadways in contact with the ground.
The story for today will be continued gusty winds which will
blow some of the fresh snow around resulting in further travel
hazards in the form of reduced visibility, alongside a bit of
drizzle possible mainly in central Minnesota to western
Wisconsin wrapping around the system over the Great Lakes. High
temperatures will be colder in western Minnesota where the winds
will have been out of the north to northwest for longer, with
near 30 on the SD/ND/MN border compared to near 40 in the metro,
and low to mid 40s in western Wisconsin. This should keep any
of the wrap around light precipitation as pure liquid with any
kind of impacts from colder temperatures waiting until
temperatures fall again tomorrow night. These temperatures
should also alleviate the travel concerns after this morning,
such that dry conditions will return to most roadways by midday.


The pressure gradient associated with the low pressure system will
weaken by sunrise Friday as winds diminish with northerly flow aloft
as the upper level jet streak weakens as ridging builds over the
northern CONUS by Saturday. Conditions will remain dry through
Saturday with a small chance returning on Sunday as guidance remains
unconvinced of a single solution for right now. The stronger upper
level jet likely stays south of the region as another upper level
low slides eastwards across south-central Canada, with our chance
for precipitation mainly relying on a weak cold front sliding
through Sunday evening into Monday morning. Deterministic guidance
would wait until the system is closer to Michigan to produce light
precipitation, with ensemble guidance loosely following that trend
as a few members of each of the EPS/GEFS/CFS suggest some light
precipitation on Monday. The most likely outcome for now is a few
weak showers but overall mostly cloudy skies being the primary
result with the current setup, as we lack any sort of upper level
support unless the southern stream jet trends a bit farther
northwards or the Canadian system stalls and keeps the front more
developed west of where it currently wants to produce more showers.
This pattern doesn`t change by midweek with upper level flow
remaining fairly weak with the southern jet a full state away and no
strong surface systems to force any active weather. Temperatures
will trend cooler as a result of the front moving through Sunday
into Monday, with highs struggling to reach 30 across the region
early next week.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 514 AM CST Thu Nov 21 2024

The patchy clearing of VFR cigs over eastern MN and northwestern
WI will continue south, leaving all terminals within the first
few hours. Stubborn low-level stratus will remain with most
terminals being characterized by IFR/MVFR cigs the entire
period. The exception will be AXN where cigs should lower to IFR
by late this morning and remain. Winds will remain
northwesterly the entire period with the fastest speeds
migrating towards our eastern terminals (MSP, RNH, and EAU)
quickly this morning. Sustained speeds will range from 15-20
knots with gusts of 25-35 knots. However, EAU will gust to near
35 knots. Winds will eventually slow to under 10 knots from this
evening into tonight.

KMSP...VFR cigs should quickly be replaced by overcast MVFR
stratus by 13Z. Northwesterly winds of 15-20 knots with gusts
to near 30 knots are expected through this afternoon. Winds slow
to under 10 knots tonight.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
FRI...Chc MVFR cigs. Wind NW 10-15kts.
SAT...Chc MVFR cigs. Wind NW 5-10 kts.
SUN...VFR. Wind SE 5-10 kts.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...None.
WI...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...TDH
AVIATION...CTG