Weather Gone Wild: 70+ Degrees On The Radar For Rochester This Weekend

If you've lived in Rochester, Minnesota for a bit, you know that we are in a place where the weather can be unpredictable.  This week though...it is weather gone wild in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

This week, we were wearing all the winter gear on Sunday as over a foot of snow dumped in our area.  Wednesday, we were still feeling 19 degrees on our face.  By the end of the weekend, we'll be wearing shorts and sandals...and probably opening our windows.

One Week, Two Completely Different Seasons in Rochester, Minnesota

Minnesota has a few perks - we've got 10,000 + lakes, we have one of the best state fairs ever, Como Park Zoo is free (and amazing), the epic Mall of America is next door to Ikea, and the world-class Mayo Clinic is in our backyard.

Seriously, Mayo Clinic is about a block from our radio station.

Get our free mobile app

One thing that no one ever really explains though is that we can get two different seasons in a matter of days.  Example...this week in Minnesota.

Tuesday, March 17th - parts of Southeast Minnesota woke up to a few new inches of snow.  According to the National Weather Service La Crosse, some areas even experienced freezing drizzle.

Wednesday, March 18th - low near 19 degrees, cold and damp at times.  Probably going to want to wear a coat and even a hat if you are out for a bit.

Thursday, March 19th - still a bit brisk but the high will get around 50 degrees.  It will feel at times like a mini-heat wave.  But that is only because we just felt the frozen tundra on our face for months.  Warm enough to grab a free cone though at Dairy Queen for Free Cone Day.

Friday, March 20th - First Day Of Spring!  We aren't at the point where flowers are poking through the ground but we will feel that warmth as it gets into the 60s.  Also...lots of puddles and mud are anticipated.  We just had over a foot of snow dumped in our area about 5 days ago.

READ MORE: Free Stuff You Can Grab In Rochester On The First Day Of Spring

Saturday, March 21st - Nothing says the start of spring like a high near 75 degrees.  Open those windows, find your shorts.

Don't Get Too Comfortable With Those 70+ Degree Temperatures

Mother Nature loves to give us reminders that she is in control.  This weekend is a prime example of that.

After we soak in that vitamin D on Saturday as the rays beat down 70+ degrees on our pale, Minnesotan legs, we will see a 20 to 30 degree drop in those temperatures on Sunday.

What Does This Huge Change In Temperatures Mean For Those Who Live In Southeast Minnesota

If you were hoping to leave the winter coat behind now that "spring" is on the calendar, think again.  Here's what these yo-yo temps mean to those of us who live in Southeast Minnesota:

• Our mornings will be a bit chilly - bring the coat and if you aren't already planning on wearing layers, you should start.
• Our afternoons are going to start feeling like springtime.  If you are a parent, this is the prime time when kids lose their sweatshirts, coats, or other layers that you send with them in the morning to school.  By the afternoon, they start shedding those layers...never to be found again.
• Get ready for mud and puddles!  If you are a "walker", your white shoes don't have a chance.  This is when you need to switch to wearing dark brown or black shoes.
• Are your eyes itchy?  As the temps start to warm up, allergy season also starts to kick in.