Fog Could Thwart Record High This Wednesday

(KNSI) – Last year saw several record highs fall, and 2024 could begin along those same lines.

The weather database at St. Cloud State University shows the warmest January 31st in history saw the mercury rise to 46 degrees. Wednesday will challenge that mark. The National Weather Service is calling for a high of 47 degrees and mostly sunny conditions.

SCSU Meteorologist and Professor Emeritus Bob Weisman says fog could complicate things. Little wind allowed a thick blanket to keep the sun shrouded for almost all Saturday and Sunday in the eastern half of the state, including St. Cloud. Similar conditions are expected for Tuesday night into Wednesday. The question becomes how quickly the fog will lift.

Weisman writes on the university’s weather page that he wouldn’t be shocked if temps on the 31st don’t get past the upper-30s. Another model is calling for low-50s. Weisman says that even if he is correct, a record might still be broken on Wednesday.

The professor says a max min is in play overnight into Thursday morning. A max min occurs when there is a record warm low temperature. The previous record for the highest low temperature for February 1st is 30 degrees, set in 2005. Weisman expects temperatures to settle between 30 and 34 that night.

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