Rain and cold are no indicator of winter

Published 2:59 pm Saturday, October 5, 2013

It may have appeared to be an end to the favorable fall weather over the weekend, but southern Minnesotans could be in for a little more autumn bliss.

Despite severe weather that dumped more than a foot of snow in areas of western South Dakota, Minnesota could be in the clear for a while, along with a little warmth.

“It’s very typical with these fall storms that you get severe weather on the east and south side and heavy snow on the north and west side,” said Minnesota Public Radio Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner.

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After that weekend storm brought plenty of rain and a blast of cold air to southeastern Minnesota, local temperatures could return to upper 60s and even 70s this week. The National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wis., forecasts a high of 60 on Monday, 67 on Tuesday and a chance to break 70 on Wednesday, with plenty of sunshine. The favorable trend could even continue past that, according to Huttner.

“This nice weather isn’t done yet,” Huttner said. “We still have nice weather ahead. I do think the window is closing a bit on 80s. We’re probably done with the 80s. But I do think we’ll have a few more days in the 70s.”

Huttner expects the recent rains to soak in quickly and farmers to be back in the fields within days, as the coming warm days will also be dry.

Of course, overnight lows are beginning to be quite chilly, but not freezing.

A frost may not be in the forecast until late October.