Our Thursday began with a need to keep pets in, bundle kids up for the bus stop, and use the remote starter if you’re fortunate to have one. Much of the region dipped below zero overnight with International Falls dropping to -20. A warm front will approach the region from the southwest today to set the stage for near-record highs on the first day of March.

Ahead of the front, an area of clouds sweeps from southwest to northeast across the Northland through the morning. These clouds may produce flurries north of the Iron Range that would bring a dusting at most. Clouds may linger for these northern areas into the afternoon with sunshine elsewhere. Highs will range from low 20s near Grand Marais to around 30 in the Twin Ports to 43 for Hinckley and Siren. Winds will be out of the southeast around 10 mph with occasional gusts of 20 mph.

Tonight will be mostly clear with lows ranging from teens north to near 30 south. Friday then features sunshine, a breezy south wind, and highs in upper 40s to mid-50s that will brush close to daily records. We’ll look along the North Shore of Cook County for cooler conditions due to the south wind. A cold front slides south of the Canadian border on Saturday knocking International Falls back into the mid-30s, but highs elsewhere will be in 40s and 50s. An east wind develops and keeps shoreline communities cooler. We’ll look near and north of the Iron Range for light rain and snow Saturday evening.

Sunday will bring a surge of warmth from the south with low 60s possible near Hayward, but the unseasonable warmth colliding with a breezy east wind could result in fog and low clouds that would keep the Twin Ports and other shoreline areas much cooler. The majority of northeast Minnesota will also stay in the 40s. Rain arrives on Sunday, and snow may mix in Sunday night into Monday behind the system.

Today: Morning clouds giving way to afternoon sun. High 31. SE wind 5-15 mph.

Tonight: Clear. Low 24. E wind 5-15 mph.

Tomorrow: Sunny, warmer, and breezy. High 50. S wind 10-20 mph.

Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy. Low 32. SW wind 5-10 mph.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy and breezy. High 45. NE wind 10-15 mph.

Sunday: Cloudy and windy with a chance for rain. High 45. E wind 15-20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

Monday: Mostly cloudy and breezy with a chance for rain and snow. High 39. WNW wind 10-15 mph. Chance of precip: 30%

Tuesday: Partly cloudy and breezy. High 33. W wind 10-15 mph.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy and breezy. High 39. E wind 10-15 mph.