Warm and cold battle across the North Central U.S.
By
Jessica Storm, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Updated Apr 25, 2021 12:03 PM EST
Around the country, the National Weather Service has volunteers observing weather from their homes. The data is used to learn more about the climate.
A topsy-turvy weather pattern is in store for the north-central United States this weekend through this week as temperatures bounce up and down across this warm-cold battleground.
It's already been quite the week of ups and downs in the north-central U.S.
Cities such as Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Rapid City, South Dakota, started out the week at below-normal temperatures in the 30s and 40s. Rapid City's low temperature even dipped into the teens Monday and Tuesday night.
However, this cold spell did not last long as the temperature in Minneapolis jumped to 64 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, just above average for this time of year. Temperatures in Fargo, North Dakota, rose above even that with a high of 65 F, which is 5 degrees above its average.
Friday, this warm wave moved into the Omaha, Nebraska area, when the city recorded a high of 64, a 15-degree leap from Wednesday. This ended the first spring four day stretch of freezing mornings since 1873, according to the NWS Omaha office.
Then, a cold front rolled into the region. The NWS office at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, posted a satellite image of the cold front plowing through the area on Twitter.
This image shows the temperatures across the Plains early Saturday morning, April 24, 2021. (AccuWeather)
This cold front brought temperatures down in several locations. Saturday morning, Omaha reported a low temperature of 37 F, which is 6 degrees below normal. Casper, Wyoming, reported 19 F, over 10 degrees below the average low temperature.
"A series of passing weather systems will create a wide range of temperatures for much of the north-central U.S. this weekend and early this week," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Sadvary.
The weekend will be split between cold and warm as fronts sweep across the Plains.
"Cool, Canadian air spread throughout the region Saturday following the passage of a low pressure system to the east into southern Canada," Sadvary said.
Omaha's milder stride was especially tempered by this cool air on Saturday afternoon with a high of 62 F, which is 4 degrees below normal. Minneapolis temperatures continued to fall, and the city didn't reach above 50 on Saturday. Generally the Twin Cities area sits in the low to mid-60s during late April.
Warm-weather fans will be relieved to hear the weekend is not expected to stay chilly, though. Unfortunately, snow is still possible across the northern Plains.
"A warm front is expected to return milder air to the region Sunday into Monday, but with colder air in place ahead of this system, many areas over eastern North Dakota, northern South Dakota and Minnesota can still see some snow initially," Sadvary said.
Residents of Minneapolis and Sioux Falls can expect rain on Sunday. Aberdeen, South Dakota, however, could see a light coating from snow in a few spots Sunday morning.
Due to the high sun angle of late April, any accumulating snowfall in the region is not expected on roads, and will likely melt quickly on other surfaces. Much of the snow that will fall is going to have a difficult time sticking to the ground.
"The central and southern Plains will slowly start moderating at the beginning of the week as the cooler air shifts toward the East Coast states for Monday," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys. "However, by Tuesday and Wednesday, cooler air will be right back again."
To illustrate the wild temperature swings in store this week, Omaha Nebraska is forecast to go from a high of 74 F Sunday, to a record challenging high of 90 F Monday, and then down to a high of 67 F by Wednesday after a cold front brings the chance for showers and thunderstorms Tuesday.
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"Low pressure responsible for the passing warm front early in the week will shift towards the Great Lakes on Tuesday, swinging a cold front through the Plains that will return for cooler air for most of the central Plains," Sadvary said.
Minneapolis will struggle to top out in the low 40s Sunday, before soaring to around 70 Monday, then settling back into the upper 50s to around 60 for high temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday.
The next cold front that will trim back Monday's warmth will also lead to showers and thunderstorms across the region Tuesday. However forecasters say the threat for severe thunderstorms will focus farther south for now.
"A large storm that is expected to track into the West Coast this weekend should eject out into the Plains Monday and Tuesday," Roys said. This storm will then track to the northeast through the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes between Wednesday and Thursday.
"Strong-to-severe thunderstorms are expected along its path; this will primarily be across the eastern Plains and Midwest," Roys said.
At this time, AccuWeather meteorologists are not expecting severe storms to reach too far into the northern Plains, but forecast confidence will increase as the event grows closer, so residents are urged to check their local forecast frequently.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
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News / Weather Forecasts
Warm and cold battle across the North Central U.S.
By Jessica Storm, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Updated Apr 25, 2021 12:03 PM EST
Around the country, the National Weather Service has volunteers observing weather from their homes. The data is used to learn more about the climate.
A topsy-turvy weather pattern is in store for the north-central United States this weekend through this week as temperatures bounce up and down across this warm-cold battleground.
It's already been quite the week of ups and downs in the north-central U.S.
Cities such as Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Rapid City, South Dakota, started out the week at below-normal temperatures in the 30s and 40s. Rapid City's low temperature even dipped into the teens Monday and Tuesday night.
However, this cold spell did not last long as the temperature in Minneapolis jumped to 64 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, just above average for this time of year. Temperatures in Fargo, North Dakota, rose above even that with a high of 65 F, which is 5 degrees above its average.
Friday, this warm wave moved into the Omaha, Nebraska area, when the city recorded a high of 64, a 15-degree leap from Wednesday. This ended the first spring four day stretch of freezing mornings since 1873, according to the NWS Omaha office.
Then, a cold front rolled into the region. The NWS office at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, posted a satellite image of the cold front plowing through the area on Twitter.
This image shows the temperatures across the Plains early Saturday morning, April 24, 2021. (AccuWeather)
This cold front brought temperatures down in several locations. Saturday morning, Omaha reported a low temperature of 37 F, which is 6 degrees below normal. Casper, Wyoming, reported 19 F, over 10 degrees below the average low temperature.
"A series of passing weather systems will create a wide range of temperatures for much of the north-central U.S. this weekend and early this week," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Sadvary.
The weekend will be split between cold and warm as fronts sweep across the Plains.
"Cool, Canadian air spread throughout the region Saturday following the passage of a low pressure system to the east into southern Canada," Sadvary said.
Omaha's milder stride was especially tempered by this cool air on Saturday afternoon with a high of 62 F, which is 4 degrees below normal. Minneapolis temperatures continued to fall, and the city didn't reach above 50 on Saturday. Generally the Twin Cities area sits in the low to mid-60s during late April.
Warm-weather fans will be relieved to hear the weekend is not expected to stay chilly, though. Unfortunately, snow is still possible across the northern Plains.
"A warm front is expected to return milder air to the region Sunday into Monday, but with colder air in place ahead of this system, many areas over eastern North Dakota, northern South Dakota and Minnesota can still see some snow initially," Sadvary said.
Residents of Minneapolis and Sioux Falls can expect rain on Sunday. Aberdeen, South Dakota, however, could see a light coating from snow in a few spots Sunday morning.
Due to the high sun angle of late April, any accumulating snowfall in the region is not expected on roads, and will likely melt quickly on other surfaces. Much of the snow that will fall is going to have a difficult time sticking to the ground.
"The central and southern Plains will slowly start moderating at the beginning of the week as the cooler air shifts toward the East Coast states for Monday," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys. "However, by Tuesday and Wednesday, cooler air will be right back again."
To illustrate the wild temperature swings in store this week, Omaha Nebraska is forecast to go from a high of 74 F Sunday, to a record challenging high of 90 F Monday, and then down to a high of 67 F by Wednesday after a cold front brings the chance for showers and thunderstorms Tuesday.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
"Low pressure responsible for the passing warm front early in the week will shift towards the Great Lakes on Tuesday, swinging a cold front through the Plains that will return for cooler air for most of the central Plains," Sadvary said.
Minneapolis will struggle to top out in the low 40s Sunday, before soaring to around 70 Monday, then settling back into the upper 50s to around 60 for high temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday.
The next cold front that will trim back Monday's warmth will also lead to showers and thunderstorms across the region Tuesday. However forecasters say the threat for severe thunderstorms will focus farther south for now.
"A large storm that is expected to track into the West Coast this weekend should eject out into the Plains Monday and Tuesday," Roys said. This storm will then track to the northeast through the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes between Wednesday and Thursday.
"Strong-to-severe thunderstorms are expected along its path; this will primarily be across the eastern Plains and Midwest," Roys said.
At this time, AccuWeather meteorologists are not expecting severe storms to reach too far into the northern Plains, but forecast confidence will increase as the event grows closer, so residents are urged to check their local forecast frequently.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo