Today is Tuesday, December 16th. It is currently 23 degrees in Faribault as of 6:15 am. With a south wind at 7 mph, the wind chill is sitting at 14 degrees. Relative humidity is 86 percent, and the barometric pressure is falling rapidly. Looking at our history, the record high for this date was 63 degrees in 1923, while the record low was -20 in 1914. In 2008, the high only reached -2.![]()
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In 2000, a low pressure system brought 6 to 10 inches of snow to south central Minnesota, including 10.5 inches in Albert Lea. Back in 1972, Fairmont recorded its fifteenth straight day with temperatures at or below zero. Additionally, a 1940 snowstorm dropped heavy precipitation across the state, with Winona recording over an inch of water equivalent.![]()
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For our Rice County neighbors, expect a fairly nice day today with partly sunny skies and a high near 38. South winds will increase to around 15 mph before shifting west-southwest this afternoon. We may see highs near or just above 40 degrees if warmer air aloft mixes down effectively. Tonight will turn partly cloudy with a low of 19 and wind gusts up to 25 mph.![]()
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The main concern for our region arrives Wednesday night into Thursday. We are tracking a transition from rain to a wintry mix, and eventually light snow by the Thursday morning commute. Total snow accumulations look minor at about half an inch, but a flash freeze is a real possibility. Temperatures will likely peak at midnight Thursday and fall throughout the day, potentially reaching below zero by Friday morning. Be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions as standing water or slush freezes quickly behind the cold front.![]()
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Did you know we now track local Rice County highway conditions? They are at the bottom of our Weather Dashboard at skywarn.us/radar and the scroller on our streaming channel at skywarn.us/streaming.
NEW STREAMING CHANNEL FEATURES: You'll now see Rice County-relevant winter road condition and closure information scrolling on our alerts bar, as well as a view out the front of State snowplows as they tend to Rice County roads on our newly-revamped "A look outside" page.![]()
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Know about ice or snow-covered roads, or crashes before heading outside! See the cameras at skywarn.us/streaming at 9, 24, 39, and 54 minutes past the hour, and road condition information at 12, 27, 42, and 57 minutes past the hour.![]()
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You can also check out the road condition information at the bottom of our Weather Dashboard at skywarn.us/radar. We'll also bring you important road condition information in the daily weather briefing!
It's 15 degrees at 6:25 am in Faribault, with a south-southwest wind at 5 mph, making the wind chill feel like 7 degrees. The relative humidity is 77 percent, and the barometric pressure is steady. Today, Rice County can expect partly sunny skies with a high near 27 degrees. Winds will be south southwest at 10 to 15 mph, becoming light west in the afternoon. Tonight, it will be mostly cloudy with a low around 14 degrees, with light west southwest wind becoming south southwest 5 to 10 mph after midnight.![]()
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Historically, on this day, December 15, the record high was 62 degrees in 2021, and the high only reached -3 in 1963. The record low was -27 back in 1901. On this day in 1971, a snowstorm hit Duluth with 10 inches of snow.![]()
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Drivers should be aware of current road conditions. As of 6:05 AM, light ice on the roadway was reported on Minnesota Highway 246 between Northfield and Dennison. ![]()
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Temperatures are on the rise to start the week across Southern Minnesota, with 40s possible both Tuesday and Wednesday. This warmer air is moving in from the Pacific Ocean, and going from below freezing to 40 degrees in 48 hours will certainly feel like a heat wave. However, our local deep snow cover will help prevent temperatures from getting too warm. While a minor weather disturbance Tuesday night will briefly interrupt this warmth, another push of warm air associated with the next larger system should again push temperatures above freezing for Wednesday.![]()
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This early week warmth will set the stage for a mid-week, fast-moving storm system. Late Wednesday, a low-pressure system will move into the Upper Midwest. Current forecasts suggest this low will remain in the northern half of Minnesota, placing Rice County and the southern half of the state in the warmer part of the storm. This means we are most likely to see rain or rain mixed with snow. A transition to snow is likely behind the main storm as a strong cold front moves in Thursday morning. Snow amounts are expected to be on the lower side, generally from a dusting to less than an inch. Thursday's high temperature will technically occur at midnight, as temperatures are expected to drop throughout the day. The timing of this cold front remains a key uncertainty, especially concerning the Thursday morning commute, but a clean transition from rain to snow is expected, with little concern for freezing rain on contact due to the rapid cooling of the air.![]()
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Looking ahead to Friday and into next weekend, temperatures will become more typical for the season, with highs in the mid to upper 20s and lows in the single digits to teens. Another minor, fast-moving storm system is possible Friday, reflected by a 20 percent chance of rain or snow in scattered areas, but generally calm weather is expected to return for the weekend. No severe weather risk for Rice County is expected at this time. 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 a dangerously cold Sunday morning in Rice County. At 6:00 am in Faribault, it's -10 degrees with west-northwest winds at 10 mph, making the wind chill a frigid -28 degrees. Relative humidity is 76 percent.![]()
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A Cold Weather Advisory is active for Rice County until 10:00 am today, with wind chills as low as -35 expected. Frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. If you suspect frostbite or hypothermia, seek medical attention immediately. Get to a warm area, remove wet clothing, and warm up with dry layers. For frostbite, use warm (not hot) water, avoid artificial heat, rubbing, or pressure on affected areas.![]()
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Today will remain very cold, with highs near 10 degrees and wind chills as low as -25 degrees. Light winds will shift south. Tonight, temperatures will slowly rise to around 16 degrees by 5 am Monday, though wind chills will still be around -17 degrees as breezy south-southwest winds pick up. This marks the last day of our arctic cold snap for now.![]()
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Milder temperatures arrive this week, with a gradual warming trend. Highs could reach the upper 30s to low 40s by Tuesday, potentially lessening some snowpack. The next period of activity arrives late Wednesday into Thursday, bringing a wintry mix of rain, snow, and potentially some ice as a cold front approaches. A brief cold snap will follow on Thursday, with temperatures falling throughout the day and struggling to reach the teens on Friday.![]()
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Historically, December 14 has brought extreme weather to Minnesota. In 1996, south central Minnesota saw over a foot of snow, with Rockford reporting 15 inches. In 1933, a severe ice storm hit southeast and central Minnesota. For Faribault, record temperatures on this date include a high of 56 degrees in 1923, and a bitter low of -29 degrees in 1901.![]()
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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!
The temperature is -2 this Saturday morning in Faribault at 6:00 am. With a northwest wind at 13 miles per hour gusting to 18, our current wind chill is a dangerous -21 degrees. A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect for Rice County and much of central and southern Minnesota through Sunday morning. Wind chills as low as -35 are expected, which can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. With these life-threatening cold conditions, immediately seek medical attention for any suspected frostbite or hypothermia. Get to a warm area, remove wet clothing, and warm with dry layers. For frostbite, use warm (not hot) water, and avoid artificial heat or rubbing.![]()
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Very cold temperatures continue today, with sub-zero highs near 0 degrees for Faribault. Wind chills will remain as low as -19. Tonight, under mostly clear skies, temperatures will drop to around -17, with wind chills feeling as low as -28. Even with a slight daytime warm-up, the advisory warns that frostbite can occur in 20 minutes. Light snow is possible in far southern Minnesota early this morning, but otherwise, dry conditions are expected through early week.![]()
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The record high was 50 degrees in 2014, while the high only reached -6 degrees in 1903, the same year the record low hit -27 degrees. On this day in 1995, southern Minnesota experienced 1-4 inches of snow and freezing rain, leading to school closures. An extended cold snap also began at Fort Snelling in 1821, with highs staying below zero for nearly three weeks.![]()
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After this intense cold, temperatures above 32 degrees are expected next week, our first time above freezing in nearly 3 weeks. Our next chance for rain or snow arrives Wednesday into Thursday, with strong winds up to 45 miles per hour possible.![]()
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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!
It's a frigid 10 degrees this morning at 6:00 am in Faribault, with 87 percent relative humidity. Temperatures will continue to drop through the day, making the early morning the warmest part of Friday. A Cold Weather Advisory has been issued for Rice County, effective from tonight through Sunday morning, due to dangerously cold wind chills.![]()
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A band of light snow is expected to move across our area this morning, potentially affecting your morning commute with slippery roads and reduced visibility. A dusting to less than a half inch of snow is forecast for Rice County. As this weather front passes, winds from the west-northwest will pick up to 10 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph, bringing in even colder air. Overnight, wind chills are expected to drop to near or below -20 degrees.![]()
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Saturday night into Sunday morning will be the coldest stretch, with widespread wind chill values of 25 to 35 degrees below zero expected across Rice County and much of Southern Minnesota. Exposed skin could experience frostbite in as little as 10 minutes. Even on Saturday during the day, wind chills may remain in the teens to 20s below zero. We urge everyone to take precautions against the extreme cold.![]()
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On this day in 2004, a strong cold front brought winds gusting as high as 71 mph in Welch and 62 mph near Owatonna, causing scattered tree damage and minor roof issues. Our historical records for Faribault show a record high of 57 degrees in 1968, and a record low of -16 degrees back in 1903. It's also worth noting that in 1995, the high temperature on this date only reached -4 degrees.![]()
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Looking ahead, the long-range forecast offers some relief. While the very cold temperatures persist through Sunday, a change in the weather pattern next week could bring daytime high temperatures above freezing for several days. This would be a welcome break from our coldest stretch so far this winter.![]()
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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'll 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!
The National Weather Service has issued a COLD WEATHER ADVISORY, which is in effect from early SATURDAY MORNING until 10 AM SUNDAY. This advisory affects all of Rice County. Very cold wind chills as low as -32 are possible. These cold wind chills may cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. Wind chills may rise into the -10s to -20s during the day Saturday, but frostbite can still occur in as little as 20 minutes.![]()
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To prevent frostbite, it is important to limit exposed skin and dress warmly when outdoors during this period. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. Keep pets indoors as much as possible. Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills inside.![]()
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If you do not have heat in your home or lack shelter, you can call 211 for assistance locating appropriate shelter from the cold.![]()
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Keep watching Rice County Skywarn on social media for updates, and check out our Streaming Channel at skywarn.us/streaming for up-to-the-minute weather radar and announcements. Only able to listen? Check out our podcast at skywarn.us/podcast
It's 8 degrees this morning in Faribault, with 87 percent relative humidity and barometric pressure falling slowly. Records show a high of 56 degrees in 1913 and a low of -15 degrees in 1917. Looking back, this date in 1983 saw nine cars fall through just 5 to 6 inches of ice on Buffalo Lake, a critical safety lesson about ice thickness. In 1979, Roseville experienced a drastic temperature drop from 48 degrees at 2 pm to zero by dawn the next day.![]()
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For Rice County today, expect a 30 percent chance of light snow, mainly after 5 pm, with a high near 19 degrees. Tonight, lows will be around 11 degrees, with a 40 percent chance of snow before 10 pm. Southwest Minnesota could see 1 to 2 inches of snow, especially along I-90 near Fairmont, but only dusting here in Rice County.![]()
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A significant shift to very cold weather is coming to Rice County from Friday night into Sunday. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for our area. A cold front arrives Friday morning with flurries and gusty winds.![]()
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The main concern is extreme cold and dangerous wind chills. Wind chill values are likely to surpass 20 below zero Friday night, and could drop to -30 to -35 degrees Fahrenheit Saturday night through Sunday morning. These life-threatening conditions mean frostbite can occur quickly on exposed skin. Cold weather advisories or warnings are expected. A significant warm-up is possible next week, with highs potentially near or above freezing.![]()
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Stay informed about the rapidly changing conditions. 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'll 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!
A cold Wednesday morning blankets Rice County, along with an inch or two of new snow. At 5:50 am, Faribault reports 25 degrees, feeling like 13 degrees with a north-northwest wind at 14 miles per hour, gusting to 21 miles per hour. Relative humidity is 86 percent, and the barometric pressure is rising rapidly. Be sure to check for any weather related delays or closings before heading out this morning!![]()
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On this day in 1992, Duluth saw partial ice cover in their harbor. In 1979, a "heat wave" brought highs of 54 at Twin Cities and 57 at Winona. Faribault's record high for this date was 55 degrees in 1979, and the record low was -21 back in 1977.![]()
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Today, chances of snow or flurries will continue through the afternoon, with patchy blowing snow possible before 8 am. Highs will be near 24 degrees, accompanied by blustery northwest winds 10 to 20 miles per hour, gusting to 30 miles per hour. These conditions may create slippery roads and reduced visibility from blowing snow, especially in rural areas. This continues a trend of fast-moving "clipper" systems, which have consistently tracked along the southern end of model predictions, often bringing light snow to our region. An additional half inch of snow is possible for Minnesota from late this morning into the early afternoon.![]()
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Looking ahead, another clipper system will pass mostly south of Minnesota on Thursday, with the heaviest snow (2-5 inches) expected across southeast South Dakota into southeast Iowa. The final clipper in this series arrives Saturday, again favoring Iowa with 2-4 inches of snow, and only minor accumulations expected for Minnesota. Multiple chances for light snow are possible through Saturday, but significant totals are not forecast for Rice County.![]()
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The major weather story for the end of the week is the arrival of bitterly cold air. A strong cold front will blast across the area Friday morning, ushering in the coldest air of the season. Temperatures will crash Friday afternoon as northwest winds gust to between 30 and 40 miles per hour. Overnight Friday into Saturday morning, lows will fall into the single digits and teens below zero, with daytime highs on Saturday struggling to reach zero. Sunday morning is expected to be the coldest, with temperatures likely plummeting into the teens and 20s below zero. Wind chill values will consistently surpass 20 below zero at night, making Cold Weather Advisories very likely for the weekend.![]()
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There is good news on the horizon. Next week, the pattern shifts, bringing warmer air to the central United States. While Sunday will start extremely cold, by Tuesday through Thursday, highs across Rice County should reach the mid-30s. We also anticipate a break from active weather, with the next potential for precipitation not expected until next Thursday, and it could even be warm enough for rain.![]()
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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
5:45 a.m. UPDATE: A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY goes into effect at 3 p.m. TODAY until 6 a.m. WEDNESDAY for all of Rice County. Today's complex system is expected to bring a wintry mix to our area. We could see a period of icy drizzle or freezing rain this morning, possibly turning to rain, then eventually snow tonight. Total snow accumulations for Rice County are currently forecast between 1 and 3 inches, with a light glaze of ice possible. These conditions will likely impact the Tuesday evening commute, so please plan accordingly.![]()
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Strong winds will develop, with gusts as high as 35 miles per hour today and up to 40 miles per hour tonight. While our region may see some blowing snow, there is uncertainty about how easily the snow will blow around after a day where temperatures reach close to 40 degrees with periods of rain and drizzle. Despite this, hazardous driving conditions are still expected.![]()
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Current conditions in Faribault are 25 degrees, feeling like 17 degrees with a northwest wind at 7 miles per hour. The barometric pressure is falling rapidly, a sign of the changing weather ahead. The record high for this day was 59 degrees in 1939, while the record low was a frigid 17 degrees below zero in 1947. On this day in 2003, southwest Minnesota, including areas near our region, experienced 6 to 10 inches of snow with strong winds creating blowing and drifting snow.![]()
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Looking ahead, after experiencing a couple of milder days today and tomorrow, a significant deep freeze arrives from Wednesday through next weekend. Extremely cold temperatures are expected by this weekend, with wind chill values likely surpassing 20 degrees below zero Friday night and Saturday night, approaching official warning levels.![]()
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Visit skywarn.us/streaming for our Rice County Skywarn Streaming Channel, featuring the latest radar imagery, historical and future radar, weather outlooks, and weather alerts and forecasts.
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