Twin Cities frost advisory follows 40s and freeze overnight

Temperatures in the twin cities stayed in the 40s today, setting up a widespread frost and freeze overnight as skies clear and readings fall into the 30s.

Today ran 15 to 20 degrees below normal for this time of year, and tonight’s frost and freeze advisories point to a longer stretch of cool weather ahead.

Tonight's frost and freeze

Thursday brought plenty of April showers, but the next chance for widespread showers arrives tomorrow. The clearing overnight will let temperatures drop farther, and a widespread frost/freeze is expected.

That shift comes after a day of unusually cool readings for the season. Cooler weather will stick around into the new month, and frosty mornings are expected to linger for the next two to three weeks.

April showers and cooler days

There is also a chance of a few more snowflakes. Heavy rain is not in the forecast anytime soon, even as a couple of rivers continue to experience minor flooding across northeast Wisconsin.

For anyone covering plants or early-season outdoor work, tonight is the first practical warning sign: the cold is not a one-night dip. The advisory is tied to several days of below-normal temperatures, so morning freezes may keep showing up after this system passes.

Frost advisories for Minnesota

The immediate step for readers is to treat tender plants as exposed overnight. With temperatures slipping into the 30s and frosty mornings expected for weeks, the cold pattern has shifted from a brief front to a stretch that can repeat before sunrise.