Freezing rain makes Jan. 6 Twin Cities wettest on record; refreeze to slick Tuesday–Wednesday commutes
A narrow band of rain and freezing rain tracked east‑northeast across the state overnight, yielding 0.55 inches at MSP (Cottage Grove 0.75") and making Jan. 6 the wettest on record for the Twin Cities while a Winter Weather Advisory remained in effect through noon Tuesday. Temperatures holding near freezing (where even a 1–2° difference could flip rain to freezing rain) produced icy spots and MnDOT-reported ice coverage, with a slow, foggy Tuesday commute expected and refreezing Tuesday night likely to create a slick Wednesday morning.
📌 Key Facts
- A narrow band of rain is expected to move out of southwestern Minnesota and track east-northeast across the state, including the Twin Cities.
- Temperatures will hold near freezing Monday night; a 1–2°F difference across as small as a county could sharply divide rain versus freezing rain, with the greatest freezing‑rain threat from about 10 p.m. Monday through 3 p.m. Tuesday and overnight lows in the 20s.
- Rain and freezing rain should taper off by sunrise Tuesday, leaving a cloudy, damp day with highs near 34°F in the Twin Cities and light westerly winds.
- Jan. 6 was the wettest on record for the Twin Cities, with 0.55 inches officially recorded at MSP Airport and metro rainfall totals topping out at 0.75 inches in Cottage Grove.
- A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through noon Tuesday for central and southern Minnesota (including the Twin Cities); MnDOT is reporting increased ice coverage and agencies are warning of a slow Tuesday morning commute.
- Fog tonight combined with refreezing Tuesday night is expected to create another potentially slippery Wednesday morning commute.
- Tuesday will start foggy and gray with highs in the low 30s; the rest of the week is forecast to stay gray but above normal for January.
- Weekend outlook: Saturday looks mild with highs in the upper 20s and chances for snow showers, with possible sun Sunday and highs near 30°F.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, ice/frost-covered roads contributed to 6,270 traffic crashes in Minnesota, representing 9.7% of all crashes, resulting in 20 fatal crashes, 22 fatalities (5.5% of total fatalities), and 1,656 injuries (7.0% of total injuries).
Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Facts 2023 — Minnesota Department of Public Safety
In 2023, snow-covered roads contributed to 5,562 traffic crashes in Minnesota, representing 8.6% of all crashes, resulting in 8 fatal crashes, 10 fatalities (2.5% of total fatalities), and 1,217 injuries (5.1% of total injuries).
Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Facts 2023 — Minnesota Department of Public Safety
In 2023, combined wet, snowy, or icy roads accounted for 15% of fatal crashes in Minnesota (55 out of 364 total fatal crashes).
Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Facts 2023 — Minnesota Department of Public Safety
In 2023, Minnesota experienced 6,382 total traffic crashes in January, with 15 fatal crashes and 15 fatalities; 5,298 in February with 15 fatal crashes and 17 fatalities; and 5,507 in December with 34 fatal crashes and 38 fatalities, with winter months accounting for 42% of all annual crashes.
Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Facts 2023 — Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Total traffic crashes in Minnesota decreased 8% from 70,340 in 2022 to 64,744 in 2023, with fatalities decreasing 9% from 444 to 402.
Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Facts 2023 — Minnesota Department of Public Safety
In 2024, at least 479 people died in traffic crashes on Minnesota roads, a 12% increase from 2023.
The heartbreak of preventable traffic deaths in Minnesota — Minnesota Department of Public Safety
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms that Jan. 6 was the wettest on record for the Twin Cities, with 0.55 inches officially recorded in Minneapolis.
- Provides a detailed list of rainfall totals across dozens of metro communities, with Cottage Grove topping the list at 0.75 inches.
- Updates near-term impacts: more MnDOT‑reported ice coverage, warnings of a slow Tuesday morning commute, and a specific forecast of refreezing Tuesday night leading to another potentially slippery Wednesday morning.
- Confirms that rain and freezing rain will taper off by sunrise Tuesday, leaving a cloudy and damp day, with temps near 34°F in the Twin Cities and light westerly winds.
- Reports MSP Airport has recorded at least two‑thirds of an inch of precipitation, making this the wettest January 6 on record for the metro.
- Details that a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through noon Tuesday for central and southern Minnesota including the Twin Cities, and that fog tonight plus refreezing could create another slippery Wednesday morning commute.
- Specifies that a narrow band of rain will roll out of southwestern Minnesota and track east-northeast across the state, including the Twin Cities.
- Clarifies that temperatures will hold near freezing Monday night and that a 1–2° difference across as small as a county could sharply divide rain vs. freezing rain.
- Narrows the greatest freezing-rain threat window to between 10 p.m. Monday and 3 p.m. Tuesday, with an overnight low in the 20s.
- Highlights that Tuesday will start foggy and gray with highs in the low 30s, and that the rest of the week stays gray but above-normal for January.
- Adds a weekend outlook: Saturday mild with upper‑20s highs and snow‑shower chances, and possible sun Sunday with highs near 30.