Minneapolis weekend forecast calls for Saturday clouds, then sharp warmup and early-week cool down

Rapid temperature swings set the tone for the Twin Cities

Minneapolis is moving into a volatile early-March pattern, with lingering wintry conditions giving way to a brief burst of springlike warmth before a cooler, unsettled start to the workweek. The setup reflects a broad storm system influencing the Upper Midwest, allowing colder air to rotate in behind light snow chances, followed by a surge of warmer air on Sunday.

Saturday: clearing trend after overnight wintry weather

Saturday is expected to be cooler and largely cloudy early, with periods of partial clearing developing later in the day. Light snow and flurries remain possible in the metro area, with any additional accumulation generally minor. Early-day travel impacts are most likely on untreated neighborhood streets, sidewalks, and parking lots where patchy ice can form after light snow or melt-and-refreeze conditions.

• Temperatures: generally in the upper 30s
• Sky conditions: clouds trending toward partial sun
• Main hazard: localized slick spots from light snow and refreezing

Sunday: springlike warmth with near-record potential

Sunday is forecast to be dramatically warmer, with abundant sunshine and highs pushing into the 60s. Forecast guidance indicates the potential to approach or challenge record territory for early March, a sharp reversal from Saturday’s cooler, late-winter feel. The warmth may accelerate snowmelt, increasing runoff into storm drains and low-lying areas, especially where snow piles remain.

The most notable feature of the weekend forecast is the contrast: near-winter conditions Saturday, then a rapid warmup Sunday.

Early week: clouds return, then a cooler, unsettled turn

Conditions are expected to moderate on Monday with increasing cloud cover and cooler highs than Sunday, though still seasonally mild for March. By Tuesday, the pattern turns more unsettled, with cooler temperatures and the potential for rain or snow showers in and around the Twin Cities. Confidence is higher in the overall cooling trend than in precise precipitation timing and amounts, which can shift with small changes in storm track and temperature profiles.

• Monday: mostly cloudy and cooler than Sunday
• Tuesday: cooler with spotty rain/snow chances

What to watch

Residents planning outdoor activities should be prepared for fast-changing conditions: winter traction concerns early Saturday, then springlike warmth on Sunday, followed by a return to jacket weather and possible mixed precipitation by Tuesday. The most practical near-term concerns are slick spots Saturday morning and localized flooding near clogged drains during the Sunday melt.