This has been an interesting February with temps running nearly 4F to 4.5F above average and precipitation running nearly 0.50" above average as well. However even though precipitation has been running above average, we've had very little snowfall. It does look like that could change as we head into next week as we're getting indications of heavy snowfall potential across the region. Stay tuned...

The weekend will be mild with temperatures running above average by almost +5F to +10F. Saturday will be the better day of the weekend with a mix of sun and clouds. Sunday could feature a few light snow showers and a weak clipper slides across the international border.

"February 13, 2023 - Spring leaf out continues to spread north in southern states, arriving several days to weeks earlier than average (the period of 1991-2020) in much of the Southeast. Oklahoma City, OK is 11 days early, Nashville, TN is 12 days early. Parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Chesapeake Bay are 3-4 weeks early. Much of southern California and Arizona are days to over a week late, while the coastal Northwest is days to weeks early. Las Vegas, NV is one day late. Seattle, WA is a week early. Spring bloom has also arrived along the Gulf Coast and in Florida. Spring bloom is 8 days early in San Antonio, TX, 6 days early in Jacksonville, FL."

See more from NPN HERE:

Here's the weather outlook through early next week, which shows a very weak wave of energy skipping across the international border on Sunday with a very light rain/snow mix across the state. There's a better chance of snow along and north of the I-94 corridor as a more pronounced clipper slides southeast through the region. This one could bring a better chance of plowable snow to the northern half of the state.

The NAM snowfall potential suggests some minor plowable amounts across the northern half of the state Monday into Tuesday. A potentially larger even will unfold mid/late week with widespread plowable amounts across the state. Stay tuned...

The NBM extended temperature outlook for Minneapolis over the next several days shows milder weather returning this upcoming weekend and into early next week with highs in the 30s. Temps take a dive mid/late next week as a potentially much larger and impactful system moves through the Midwest. Highs Thursday and Friday could drop into the teens with overnight lows dipping into the subzero range.

Believe it or not, the MSP Airport just ended its 25th longest consecutive stretch of at least 6" of snow on the ground after the record setting rainfall on Valentine's Day Tuesday. There was at least 6" of snow on the ground since December 20th with the maximum snow depth at 16" on January 5th & 6th. This was the longest stretch of at least 6" of snow since 2014 (1/14 to 3/13), which was a 59 day day stretch.

Taking a look at snowfall since July 1st, many locations have seen above average amounts so far this season, but folks from near Sioux Falls to the Twin Cities and towards Duluth are nearly 15" to 25" above average this month. 55.6" of snow has fallen at the MSP Airport, which is the 10th snowiest start to any season on record.

The weather outlook for the Twin Cities on Saturday, February 18th mild and quiet weather in place for this time of the year. Highs could approach the upper 30s with light winds and a mix of clouds and sun. It looks like a very pleasant February day, enjoy!

Temps across the region on Saturday will warm into the 30s across much of the state, which will be nearly +5F to +10F above average for this time of the year. With light winds and sunshine, it will be a very pleasant February day. Enjoy!

The weather outlook for the Twin Cities through the day Saturday shows temps starting around 20F, but will warm into the mid/upper 30s. Southerly winds will generally be light with plenty of sunshine.

Weather conditions through the weekend will generally be quiet in the Midwest. There's a light snow chance early next week as a clipper dives south of the border with minor snow accumulations across northern Minnesota. Things get very interesting mid week next as a much larger storm system appears to develop in the Central US. This storm could bring significant snowfall amounts to parts of the Midwest with strong winds. It's still too early to tell, but stay tuned to further forecast updates.

After a chilly end of week, temperatures this weekend return to above average levels. A potentially impactful storm system will drop temps to below average levels during the 2nd half of the week.

There's a light rain/snow chance on Tuesday with a better chance of minor snow accumulations in northern Minnesota on Monday. The more interesting weather system will impact the region midweek next week with heavy snow and wind potential. Stay tuned...

According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, the 8 to 14 day temperature outlook shows cooler than average temperatures lingering across the Western US and Midwest. Meanwhile, the southeastern part of the nation will be warmer than average.

According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, the 8 to 14 Day precipitation outlook shows more active weather in place across much the Western US and across the Ohio Valley.

This winter started on a fast a furious note with a winters worth of snow (55 inches) falling through January. Chalk the last few weeks up to a much needed and prolonged winter intermission. February temps are running nearly 4 degrees above average with snowfall tied for the 4th least snowy start to February on record with only 0.1" falling at the MSP Airport. Interestingly, this is the 18th wettest start to any February on record with nearly 1 inch of liquid (mostly rain) falling in the metro.

A return to winter looks eerily imminent later this week. Both the GFS (American Model) and ECMWF (European Model) are hinting at plowable snow potential Wednesday and Thursday of next week. It's still too early to tell, but stay tuned. Meanwhile, enjoy the somewhat mild and quiet weekend ahead.

SATURDAY: Partly sunny & mild. Winds: SE 5. High: 37.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Winds: SSE 5. Low: 24.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy & still mild. Winds: NW 7-12. High: 36.

TUESDAY: Cooler winds. PM snow develops. Winds: NNE 10-15. Wake-up: 17. High: 25.

WEDNESDAY: Windy with snow. Could be plowable. Winds: NE 15-30. Wake-up: 16. High: 24.

THURSDAY: Lingering snow and strong winds. Winds: NW 15-30. Wake-up: 12. High: 19.

FRIDAY: Icy start. Some PM sunshine. Winds: SSW 5-10. Wake-up: -4. High: 15.

February 18th

February 18th

Average High: 30F (Record: 58F set in 1981 & 2017)

Average Low: 14F (Record: -21F set in 1903)

Record Rainfall: 0.70" set in 1961

Record Snowfall: 7.0" set in 1961

Sunrise: 7:08am

Sunset: 5:44pm

Hours of Daylight: ~10 hours & 27 minutes

Daylight GAINED since yesterday: +2 Minutes & 58 Seconds

Daylight GAINED since Winter Solstice (December 21st): ~ 1 hour & 49 minutes

Temperatures on Saturday will be mild once again across the Midwest with highs in the 30s and 40s. Meanwhile, lingering cooler weather will be in place across the Southern US with highs only in the 50s.

The weather outlook for Saturday will be MUCH quieter across the eastern two-thirds of the nation in the wake of that potent storm system that brought widespread heavy rain, severe storms and heavy snowfall to the Central US this week. There will only be a little rain and snow across the High Plains on Saturday.

The weather outlook through the weekend looks rather quiet for many communities. There could be a little snow across the northern tier of the nation, but again it'll be pretty quiet. Things get much more interesting next week as a potentially impactful system develops. Stay tuned!

According to NOAA's Weather Prediction Center, the extended precipitation outlook shows heavier amounts across the Ohio/Tennessee Valley next week with some showers and storms. The Midwest could see a heap of snow, while heavy precipitation will also be possible across parts of the Western US.

According to the ECMWF (European model), heavy snow will be found across much of the high elevations in the Western US. Parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes could be dealing with significant snowfall next week. Stay tuned...

See more from The Guardian HERE:

"A new collaboration of faith and science looks to equip Catholics with the knowledge and means to turn prayers into actions on the multitude of environmental challenges around the globe, from climate change and pollution, to the rapid loss of species and ecosystems. "Our Common Home: A Guide to Caring for Our Living Planet," is a just-released digital and print resource to help Catholic communities respond to Pope Francis' calls to protect the created world and develop a more sustainable future. It was the result of a joint initiative between the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Stockholm Environment Institute, a scientific research and policy organization headquartered in the Swedish capital. The idea was first raised in 2020 by the Swedish embassy to the Holy See. The embassy funded the project. The new guidebook provides a straightforward scientific overview of seven environmental topics:"

See more from NCR HERE:

"Artificially raising island heights or building completely new higher islands have been proposed as solutions to sea-level rise in the Maldives and other low-lying nations. Researchers from the University of Southampton, the Tyndall Center for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and TEDI-London, working with Maldivian scientists, show that using simple engineering principals to raise islands or build new ones can help small island nations like the Maldives withstand long-term sea level rise due to climate change. This approach is consistent with existing practice in the Maldives, as well as demographic trends—the capital Malé and neighboring islands are attracting a rapidly expanding population as other islands are abandoned. "Our findings indicate that in the extreme the entire population of the Maldives could live on just two islands that are built at a significantly higher elevation than natural islands to withstand sea-level rise," said Prof Robert Nicholls, Director of the Tyndall Center at UEA."

See more from Phys.org HERE: