JANUARY THAW: Big Winter Warmup on the Way for Southern Minnesota

This has been a weird winter. First warm with no snow. Now a little snow and artic air. Next up is a big warmup with temps returning to their above-normal perch.

Over the past week our warmer than average season took a nosedive below zero, feels like temps hovering around to -30 to -40. The average high for southern Minnesota in January is in the low to mid 20s.

Beginning as soon as this weekend we could be back above normal on the thermometer, with highs creeping near 40 next week (yes, really).

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High temps will continue to struggle to get above zero through Friday, but we climb to near 20 on Sunday, and into the 30s for Monday and beyond.

National Weather Service

Now, a lot of this is pretty far out in the distance, which makes the specifics a little bit sketchy. Yes, things can change -- but it does reflect what NOAA and the National Weather Service are considering are the likely temperature trends over the next couple of weeks.

11 of the Most Devastating Weather Disasters in Minnesota Throughout The Years

We might be full of lakes and "nice" but Minnesota has had its fair share of horrible and nasty weather. Throughout the years we've had floods, fires, storms that have crushed stadium roofs flat, and tornadoes that have destroyed lives.

Gallery Credit: Jessica Williams

The 25 Best Places to Live in Minnesota

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Minnesota using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.