It's 35 degrees in Faribault at 5:30 am, with a northeast wind at 10 miles per hour making it feel like 27 degrees. Humidity is 85 percent. We picked up a quarter of an inch of precipitation with the last system, and the barometric pressure is falling. The WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY has been cancelled, as temperatures stayed above freezing and caused all precipitation to be rain. Rain is still expected to eventually transition to snow and sleet later this morning with up to around a slushy inch of accumulation. Travel while snow is falling could still be slippery during the morning commute, especially on bridges. Please drive carefully.![]()
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Our forecasters noted that the main uncertainty for this system was whether temperatures would be a degree or two above or below freezing. Temperatures have stayed just above freezing, with moisture levels between 33 and 35 degrees preventing the air from getting cold enough for significant snow accumulation across southern Minnesota. We are seeing mostly rain or a mix of rain and small ice chunks so far.![]()
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For the rest of today, expect rain, possibly mixed with snow, mainly before 10 am. The high will be near 39 degrees, with an east northeast wind 5 to 10 miles per hour. Wet weather could continue to near noon across southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin, but rising temperatures will likely change any light snow or ice pellets back to rain by late morning. Looking ahead, an extended stretch of warm and dry weather looks likely into Thanksgiving week, with temperatures 5 to 10 degrees warmer than average.![]()
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On this day in 1994, wind gusts between 58 to 69 miles per hour caused isolated damage to structures across south central and southeastern Minnesota, including Rice County. In contrast, 1979 brought a heat wave to Southwest Minnesota, with Browns Valley hitting 70 degrees. For Faribault, the record high on this day was 75 degrees in 1923, and it only reached 18 degrees for a high in 2014. The record low was -2 degrees back in 2018.![]()
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The National Weather Service has issued a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY, effective from midnight tonight until 9 AM Tuesday. This advisory affects all of Rice County.![]()
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Rain may develop early this evening, then turn to a mix of rain and snow overnight. Precipitation may turn to all snow at times and become heavy. Total snow accumulations up to 3 inches are possible. Quick accumulations of a few inches are possible in time for the Tuesday morning commute. FORECAST CONFIDENCE REMAINS LOW AND WILL DEPEND ON SURFACE TEMPERATURES. A degree variation one way or the other may lead to significant forecast changes. Plan on slippery road conditions.![]()
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It is 36 degrees at 6 am in Faribault, with a wind chill of 33 degrees. Wind is out of the east-southeast at 3 miles per hour, and the relative humidity is 58 percent. The barometric pressure is steady.![]()
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On this day, November 17, the record high was 69 degrees in 1953, while the high only reached 14 degrees in 1903. The record low for November 17 was -3 degrees back in 1959. In Minnesota weather history, on this day in 1996, six inches of snow fell in Douglas, Pope, and Stevens Counties. Further back in 1835, a strange night was observed at Ft. Snelling, with Northern Lights visible over prairie fires.![]()
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For Rice County today, expect cloudy skies with a high near 45 degrees. A 20 percent chance of rain is possible after 5pm. Tonight, rain will advance into southern Minnesota, then transition to a wintry mix of rain, snow, and sleet before 1am, followed by snow, possibly mixed with sleet between 1am and 2am, and then snow after 2am. The low will be around 31 degrees, with an east southeast wind 5 to 10 miles per hour. The chance of precipitation is 90 percent, and new snow and sleet accumulation of around an inch is possible overnight.![]()
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Rice County has an active hazardous weather outlook for tonight and Tuesday. A wintry mix will develop late tonight, impacting travel. The forecast remains complex due to temperatures hovering right around freezing. There is medium confidence on snowfall amounts and exact location, as a few hours earlier or later in the changeover from rain to snow or sleet could significantly increase or lower accumulations.![]()
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A narrow band of heavier snowfall rates is likely to develop across south-central and southeast Minnesota, including Rice County, where slushy accumulations of 1-3 inches are expected by Tuesday morning. The heaviest snow rates, around 0.5 inches per hour, are anticipated overnight into early Tuesday morning, with light snow ending by late Tuesday morning. Temperatures will remain near freezing throughout the event, so any snow that accumulates on roads and surfaces is not expected to last long into Tuesday afternoon. However, plan on a slow and slippery commute Tuesday morning, especially for the first appreciable snowfall of the year for many.![]()
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Beyond Tuesday, temperatures are expected to be on the warmer side of normal into the weekend.![]()
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Stay informed about this evolving wintry weather. Visit skywarn.us/podcast for our Rice County Skywarn up-to-the-minute Podcast for a great 2 or 3 minute, hands-off listening experience, where you will hear, in a minute or two, everything you need to know weather-wise to get you through your day! Install our SKYWARN app from there to easily access both the podcast and our streaming channel!
It's 27 degrees in Faribault this Sunday, November 16, at 7:20 am, with a west wind at 6 miles per hour making for a wind chill of 20 degrees. Relative humidity is 73 percent and the barometric pressure is rising.![]()
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Historically, November 16 has seen quite a range of weather in Minnesota. The record high on this day was a warm 71 degrees in 1953, contrasting sharply with a high of only 21 degrees in 1900. The record low was a frigid 1 degree below zero back in 1933. On this day in 1933, several locations set record lows, including Farmington at 11 degrees below zero and Chaska at 9 below. In 1931, a tornado touched down near Maple Plain in Hennepin County, leaving a five-mile damage path.![]()
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Today will be sunny, with a high near 45 degrees. Winds will be calm, becoming west northwest around 5 mph. Tonight, expect partly cloudy skies with a low around 28 degrees, remaining calm.![]()
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Looking ahead, a weather disturbance is forecast to pass south of our area Monday evening through Tuesday. This system brings a high probability for at least a tenth of an inch of precipitation across southern Minnesota. While temperatures will be warm enough for precipitation to begin as rain Monday evening, cooler air late overnight into Tuesday morning could lead to a wintry mix of light rain and snow. There's also a low chance for a mix of snow, ice pellets, or light freezing rain. While impacts from ice are unlikely due to warm ground temperatures, a few icy windshields are not out of the question Tuesday morning.![]()
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The precipitation should move east of our area by late Tuesday morning, bringing dry and typical November weather through Wednesday. Confidence is low for another system Thursday into Friday, but any developing low is expected to move south of our area. Dry and typically warm conditions are then likely to continue through the weekend.![]()
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Please visit our website at skywarn.us where you'll always find the latest local, weather updates, and more about our Rice County Skywarn Program!
It's 51 degrees in Faribault this Saturday morning at 7 am, but a significant change is underway. After a remarkably warm night for mid-November, with overnight temperatures in the 50s, a line of colder air is moving through. A few sprinkles are possible as this colder air pushes southeastwards, though dry air near the ground may keep most areas dry. Winds will pick up out of the northwest, gusting up to 25 to 30 miles per hour, bringing in much colder air.![]()
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For Rice County today, we expect partly sunny skies gradually becoming sunny. Temperatures will rise near 53 degrees by noon, then fall to around 47 degrees through the day. The northwest wind will be 10 to 15 miles per hour. This drier air could also make the air very dry, with humidity dropping below 30 percent across much of the area this afternoon. Coupled with breezy winds, there's a higher risk of fires.![]()
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November 15 has seen a wide range in Minnesota weather. Record high was 72 degrees in 1999, while 1932 saw a high of only 18 and a low of 4 degrees. Historically, on this day in 1976, over three thousand forest fires had occurred in Minnesota so far that year. Looking ahead, dry conditions are expected through mid-week with seasonable temperatures.![]()
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A small storm system passing south of our area Monday and Tuesday brings a chance for light rain and perhaps a dusting of snow across southern Minnesota. While models differ on the northern extent, any precipitation Monday afternoon would likely be rain, turning to light, wet snow after dark into Tuesday morning as temperatures approach 32 degrees. Travel impacts are expected to be minor, with little or no snow accumulation expected. Dry weather is expected midweek, followed by a potential for another system late next week, which would more likely bring rain than snow.![]()
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Staying informed is key to safety. Please visit our website at skywarn.us where you'll always find the latest local weather updates and more about our Rice County Skywarn Program!
Current conditions in Faribault at 6:45 am, 34 degrees with a south wind at 3 miles per hour, creating a wind chill of 31 degrees. Relative humidity is 84 percent, barometric pressure is falling.![]()
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We're set for an exceptionally warm Friday for mid-November. Highs in Rice County should reach near 68 degrees. The record high on November 14 was 72 degrees in 1999, while the high only reached 12 degrees in 1940. The record low was -4 degrees in 1959. This date also saw a tenth of an inch of precipitation in 2024.![]()
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November 14 holds some unique historical events for Minnesota. In 2002, an Alaska earthquake caused well water to turn black in southeast Minnesota. In 1996, an ice storm coated much of central and southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin with a half inch of ice, leading to school closures and flight cancellations. A spectacular meteor shower was witnessed at Fort Snelling in 1833.![]()
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Tonight, expect mostly clear skies, low around 36, south wind around 5 mph. Friday will be sunny, high near 68 degrees, south winds picking up to 5 to 15 mph. This dry, mild weather is due to a strong center of warm air, with higher-altitude temperatures approximately 25-32 degrees above normal.![]()
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A cold front sweeps through Saturday morning, bringing a change in air temperature and a slight chance of rain showers to the region. Temperatures will cool to more seasonable values: highs in the mid 40s to mid 50s Saturday, and 40s Sunday. Overnight Saturday, lows will drop into the low to mid 20s.![]()
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Looking ahead, temperatures stabilize next week, with highs in the upper 30s to lower 40s and lows in the upper 20s to lower 30s. Small chances for rain or snow late Monday and Tuesday. However, the next notable precipitation remains uncertain due to complex atmospheric patterns. Long-term models hint at potential activity around Thanksgiving week.![]()
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Please visit our website at skywarn.us where you'll always find the latest local, weather updates, and more about our Rice County Skywarn Program!
It's Thursday, November 13, and while Faribault woke up to a chilly 27 degrees with falling barometric pressure, our region's weather history reminds us of dramatic contrasts. On this very day in 1933, the first Great Dust Bowl Storm darkened skies from Minnesota to New York, and in 1986, lakes were frozen statewide as far south as Winona. Today's forecast for Rice County presents a much different picture.![]()
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We are entering a significantly mild stretch. Today, expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 59 degrees. Temperatures will climb even further on Friday, with highs reaching the mid to upper 60s, possibly even 70 degrees in southwest Minnesota. This unseasonably warm air is due to a dome of warm air moving over our region, ensuring warmer conditions persist. This is quite a departure from the historical record high of 68 degrees set in 1930, and certainly far from the record low of -4 in 1919.![]()
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A dry cold front will pass through early Saturday, bringing an increase in middle-height clouds but no rain or snow. Cooler, more seasonable temperatures will then settle in for the second half of the weekend and early next week, with highs returning to the 40s and overnight lows in the upper 20s.![]()
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Looking ahead to late Monday and Tuesday, there are small chances, around 25 to 35 percent, for rain or snow. However, any precipitation is not expected to be significant and will likely not make a major impact on current conditions. While Rice County currently faces no significant weather threats, staying informed about changing patterns is always key.![]()
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I hope everybody had a chance to see the beautiful northern lights show last night! If you missed it, there's another great chance tonight to see it again! Current conditions in Faribault this Wednesday, November 12, at 6 am show 35 degrees with a west wind at 8 miles per hour, making the wind chill 28 degrees. Relative humidity is 75 percent, and barometric pressure is rising.![]()
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Rice County has no significant weather threats at this time. Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 51 degrees. West winds will be 10 to 15 miles per hour, gusting up to 25 miles per hour this afternoon. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 29 degrees and light west winds.![]()
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Mild and breezy weather continues through the week. Southern Minnesota will see dry conditions with highs in the upper 50s through Thursday. The warmth builds by Friday, with areas south of I-94, including Rice County, having a good chance of 60s, potentially mid to upper 60s in southwest Minnesota. This could be the warmest period until next Spring.![]()
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A cold front on Saturday afternoon will bring temperatures back to normal. Weekend precipitation chances have significantly dropped, with models now showing mostly dry conditions. While a trace of rain cannot be entirely ruled out for eastern Minnesota, confidence is low. Our next rain chance is projected for Monday into Tuesday, though forecasts for next week are less certain. No major storm is currently expected until after at least mid-next week.![]()
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Historically, November 12 has seen extremes. Record highs reached 74 degrees in 1923, the high only hit 18 degrees in 1986. The record low was -5 degrees in 1966. On this day in 2000, a winter storm brought 6 to 6.5 inches of snow to extreme western Minnesota. In 1933, southwest Minnesota faced a dust storm while a blizzard raged in the northwest.![]()
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Please visit our website at skywarn.us where you will always find the latest local weather updates, and more about our Rice County Skywarn Program!
There's a nice glow from the Northern Lights if you check out the northern horizon right now! Use night mode on your phone to take pictures!
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