Mankato, Minnesota 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

989
FXUS63 KMPX 241714
AFDMPX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1114 AM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Very cold temperatures continue through Sunday night. The Cold
Weather Advisory continues through mid-morning today.

- Remaining quiet with below normal temperatures next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 353 AM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

A cold but quiet morning continues across the northern plains.
Current temperatures range in the teens below zero across southern
Minnesota whereas in the 20s below zero across central MN and
western Wisconsin. Light and variable winds have helped keep
dangerously cold wind chills at bay. However, the lack of cloud
cover from existing high pressure will help bring wind chills
back down to -25 to -35 degrees for portions of western and
central MN, and western Wisconsin through mid-morning today. It
is at that time, the Cold Weather Advisory for those impacted
areas is expected to expire. Areas farther north of central MN
can expect to remain under cold weather headlines through this
evening.

The aforementioned high pressure will gradually weaken and slide
eastward over the Great Lakes today. Return flow will increase winds
slightly and help "warm" surface temperatures within a few degrees
above or below 0 for forecast highs today and tomorrow. Similar
to yesterday, forecast soundings appear to be overly aggressive
on the amount of cloud cover overhead. Therefore trended with a
blend using lower percentiles the NBM and HREF to maintain a
potential of shallow layer cu fields. A mid-level wave sinks
down from the NW later on today and by tonight into Sunday
morning, forecast soundings did hint for a slight potential of a
few flurries occurring. Although, the more likely scenario
appears dry. No snow accumulation is expected should any
flurries manage to fall.

As we head into next week, the forecast continues to trend cold and
well below normal for the rest of January. Some snow could occur
south of I-94 Tuesday night into Wednesday but it looks like the
soundings prefer to keep the environment dry which appears to be
represented well via latest NBM guidance. As we enter February NW`ly
flow looks to become more zonal and advect some milder air into the
northern plains. If this verifies, we would see temperatures return
to near or slightly above normal.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1055 AM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

VFR conditions expected into tonight before low-end VFR to
high-end MVFR scattered to broken clouds arrive over western MN.
Clouds will slowly travel east through Sunday morning but
coverage should thin with eastern extent. Currently, AXN looks
the most likely to see MVFR between 09-16Z while RWF falls to
MVFR after. Southerly winds near 5 knots will slow to
calm/variable tonight. Northerly winds near 5 knots begin to
spread across western MN by late Sunday morning.

KMSP...Cigs will slowly lower, dropping to near 2000 feet by
Sunday afternoon. However, have lower confidence on if cloud
coverage on Sunday afternoon is enough to reach MVFR. Currently
have scattered coverage at 2000 feet after 19Z Sunday but MVFR
may be possible in future updates. Winds become northwesterly at
5-10 knots late Sunday afternoon.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
MON...VFR. Wind SW 5-10 kts.
TUE...VFR. Wind NW 5-10 kts.
WED...VFR, chc -SN/MVFR. Wind NW 5-10 kts.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Dunleavy
AVIATION...CTG