NWS Releases 2023-24 Winter Outlook For Minnesota: How Much Snow?

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesotans can prepare for a drier and warmer winter than normal, according to the National Weather Service's three-month seasonal outlook.

The seasonal temperature outlook shows that the Twin Cities metro area has about a 50 percent chance of above-normal temperatures. The northeastern part of the state has a 60 percent chance of above-normal temperatures.

Meanwhile, the northern half of Minnesota has a 40 percent chance of a drier-than-normal winter. The Twin Cities metro area and southern Minnesota have an equal chance of above and below-normal precipitation.

If the NWS' long-range forecast holds true, we will most likely get far less snow than last year's record amount.

But skiers and snowboarders hoping for a snowy winter can find hope from the Farmers’ Almanac forecast, which says Minnesota could be in for an especially "cold" winter, with "average snow."

The Old Farmer’s Almanac makes a similar forecast.

But winter is still a ways off. Here's the week-ahead NWS forecast from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport:

Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Patchy fog between 11am and noon. High near 68. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 58. East northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday: Showers likely, mainly between 8am and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. East northeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. East wind 5 to 15 mph.

Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. East southeast wind around 10 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind around 10 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South southeast wind around 15 mph.

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South southeast wind around 15 mph.

Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind around 15 mph.