February Thaw? Warmer-Than-Normal Temps On The Way

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Minnesotans may get a noticeable break from midwinter cold as warmer-than-normal temperatures are favored to continue into mid-February.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s latest 8–14 day temperature outlook, much of Minnesota is likely to see above-normal temperatures from Feb. 10 through Feb. 16.

The strongest signal for warmth stretches across the Central Plains into the Upper Midwest, including the Twin Cities metro.

While winter cold will not disappear entirely, forecasters say the broader pattern favors fewer prolonged cold snaps than are typical for early to mid-February. Instead, temperatures are more likely to run above seasonal averages during the period.

In the near term, the Twin Cities are expected to warm up after a cold start to the week, with highs climbing into the 30s later this week and potentially approaching the upper 30s by Thursday. That milder trend lines up with the longer-range outlook showing warmth lingering into mid-month.

NOAA’s outlook reflects probabilities rather than specific daily temperatures, but the consistent warm signal adds confidence that February’s harshest cold may stay at bay for now.

Here's the full NWS forecast from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport:

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 17. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 5. Calm wind.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 23. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south after midnight.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38. South southwest wind around 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30. North northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 10. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east southeast after midnight.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 26. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 30. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. South southeast wind around 5 mph.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 36. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.