Brace yourselves, Minnesota, 2025 is coming in cold -- and major red flags have been thrown for one specific week this winter.

Before we dive into those stormy dates, let's be gluttons for punishment and remind ourselves just how cold and snowy it can get here in The Land of 10,000 [frozen] Lakes.

Statistically, January and February are the coldest months in Minnesota, with average lows dipping to around 8-10°F in January and a crisp 13°F in February, according to US climate data. Of course, we've seen some truly frigid days where the mercury plunges well below zero with record lows of -60°F, which hit the state back in February of 1996 in Tower, Minnesota.

Now, we can't talk about Minnesota winters without mentioning the snow, because that's what we're really known for. While March has long held the title of snow king, December is the actual snowiest month of the year in Minnesota.

However, in recent years, February has made a surprising climb up the snow charts, becoming the #2 snowiest month of the year. For decades, February was known as a quieter winter month, with fewer major storms compared to December, January, and March. But now, thanks to more frequent and larger snowstorms, February has earned a snowier reputation across the North Star State.

We're not talking about just a little more snow, it's 25-50% higher than it was back in the late 20th century, according to the DNR.

Rochester, for example, has seen 11 of its top 20 heaviest February snowfalls since 2000. The Twin Cities, Duluth, and other spots have seen similar trends, with significant February storms becoming a near-annual occurrence.

I mean, who could forget the historic February blizzards of 2019? I sure won't. My family and I had just moved up from Texas, and our first Minnesota winter was an unforgettable introduction. It was the snowiest winter in Rochester EVER with storms that shattered snowfall records and left everyone digging out from some of the heaviest snowfalls seen in decades. National Guard TANKS were getting stuck in the snow, for heaven's sake!

We quickly learned that February here is anything but quiet, with storms often dumping over a foot of snow like it's no big deal. Talk about a welcome to the Great White North!

The Farmer's Almanac is forecasting a wet and cold 'whirlwind' winter, predicting "rapid-fire storms that will bring both rain and snow, with little downtime in between." That sounds like the kind of chaotic winter Minnesotans are all too familiar with. And don't expect much of a break; this year, the Almanac is saying we'll be in the thick of it pretty much nonstop.

On the other hand, Accuweather is calling for a 'Tug-of-War' winter, where we'll be ping-ponging between milder, rainy days and freezing, snow-heavy ones. Do you grab a rain jacket or full winter gear? They're saying it's going to be that kind of unpredictable season.

Either way, both forecasts agree on one thing: winter 2025 is going to be a bit of a wild ride.

So, what does all of this back-and-forth winter action mean for us here in Minnesota? According to the Farmer's Almanac, there is a stretch of days in January we need to keep an eye on.

They predict a storm track will basically park itself right over the eastern half of the U.S., including Minnesota, JANUARY 20-27, which could mean "copious amounts of snow, rain, sleet, and ice (depending on where you live)," says the FA.

There you have it, Minnesota, as usual, could be in for some serious snowfall that second to last week of January, but let's be real, we all know how it goes -- if they say "copious amounts of snow," then we'll probably end up with just a dusting. 😉