weather

We will definitely be paying for our extended summer and warm fall, right?

Many forecasters, including those at the National Weather Service in the Twin Cities, have described the beginning of October as a "roller coaster." Temperatures have been fluctuating between the 60s and 80s, but we all know how this ride is going to end.

Octobers in Minnesota are known for crisp air and bright foliage turning the landscape into shades of red, orange, and yellow. Days get shorter, and nights become cooler, with temperatures usually in the 60s during the day and dropping into the 40s at night. It’s often an ideal month for outdoor activities like backyard fires, hiking, and apple picking while the colorful leaves are at their best.

If you’re in Minnesota, Iowa, or Wisconsin, you have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights tonight. Scientists say the aurora might even be visible in parts of Nebraska.

Wildfire concerns and freezing conditions are expected across much of Minnesota this week.

Ope.

This month could be in the history books for a few different reasons.

Fall is nowhere in sight.

Experts say this winter will be influenced by La Niña. La Niña occurs when the sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator are cooler than usual. This usually means Minnesota can expect a colder and wetter winter.

Climate.gov writes that El Niño took effect in May 2023 and officially was gone as of June 2024. And now there's a good chance we’ll see La Niña appear this fall. So, what’s La Niña and will it impact our winter in Minnesota?