Photo: Laura Durenberger-Grunow

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - February 19, 2024


At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the National Weather Service (NWS) released its 8-14 day outlook yesterday and it appears warm winter temperatures aren't going anywhere. 

Image: National Weather Service, NOAA 

For most, if not all of Cook County, there is an 80-90% chance temperatures will be above normal (the average temperature for February hovers around 25 degrees F) to finish out the month. The rest of the North Shore has a 60-70% chance of above-normal temperatures during the same time period. 

 Image: National Weather Service, NOAA

In terms of precipitation, almost the entire state of Minnesota has a 40-50% chance of seeing above-normal levels. Whether that precipitation will fall as rain or snow of course depends on temperatures. Additional information can be found at www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov.

In June 2023, the National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared the arrival of El Nino, a natural climate pattern that occurs every 2-7 years. During El Nino years, Minnesota typically sees drier than average precipitation and warmer than average temperatures. You can read more about El Nino here: https://www.weather.gov/news/230706-ElNino