MINNEAPOLIS - When you look at the calendar, it says spring, but with snow falling across much of Minnesota Friday.
So let's talk about why our spring weather is always so turbulent. March in Minnesota usually is the beginning of the thaw after a long winter, with an occasional snowstorm. This time last year, the ice was already out on Lake Minnetonka. Spring is a transition season in Minnesota, and what can drive our weather can involve snowpack and the jet stream.
In March, the sun is strong enough to really warm us up, but when there is snow on the ground it can reflect some of the sun's energy. This is called albedo, or the reflectivity of the snow which can decrease our ability to warm up. Over a large area, snowpack can create a microclimate and keep temperatures much colder.
The jet stream also plays a big part of our weather, the pattern we are in now will keep cold arctic air around our area for the next week keeping temperatures cold, but also this time of year, the opposite can happen and that cold air can be much farther north. Early season tornadoes can happen more often during these warmer than average springtime months.
So if you're waiting for the warmer days to arrive, while it may be taking longer than average this year, remember on average we usually see our first 70-degree day happen in April.