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If you’ve lived in Stearns County for more than a week, you know the drill. You check the weather for Kimball MN in the morning, see a forecast for 35 degrees, and by noon you're digging a shovel out of the garage because a clipper system decided to take a detour through your backyard. It’s a specific kind of atmospheric chaos that defines life here.
Right now, as of mid-January 2026, we’re seeing exactly why Central Minnesota is such a wild card. We just came off a day where the high hit a surprisingly balmy 41°F, only to have the bottom fall out. Tonight, we’re looking at a low near 12°F. That’s a nearly 30-degree swing in the time it takes to watch a double-header.
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Basically, Kimball sits in this weird transition zone. We get the moisture from the south and the "Polar Vortex" leftovers from the north.
What the Forecast Actually Means for Your Week
Honestly, the next few days are a textbook example of why "mostly cloudy" is the most common phrase in a local meteorologist's vocabulary. Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 14, is looking sunny with a high of 18°F. That sounds cold, but after today's humidity, that crisp, dry air is actually going to feel a bit refreshing—as long as you’ve got a decent windbreaker.
The real story starts Thursday. We’re tracking a 40% chance of light snow with a high of 32°F. It’s that "wet" snow. The kind that sticks to the power lines and makes the walk to the mailbox feel like a workout.
By the time Friday hits, we’re back into snow showers. The temperature is going to start a slow slide into the negatives. We’re talking about a high of -1°F by Saturday.
The Shifting Climate of Central Minnesota
You've probably noticed that our winters aren't quite what they used to be. According to data from the Minnesota DNR, our state has warmed by about 3.0°F since 1895. That doesn't sound like much until you realize most of that warming happens at night and during the winter.
Kimball specifically is seeing fewer of those legendary -30°F nights that our grandparents talk about. Instead, we get more "ice events." When the air stays near the freezing mark longer, we trade beautiful snowdrifts for treacherous sheets of black ice on Highway 15.
- Average January High: 21°F to 23°F
- Average January Low: 1°F to 3°F
- Precipitation: Usually light, averaging about 0.55 inches for the month.
The historical records at the NWS Twin Cities office in Chanhassen show that while we still get hit with the occasional blizzard, the "frequency of extreme cold" (temperatures below -25°F) has dropped significantly in Southern and Central Minnesota.
Why the Wind in Kimball Hits Different
If you’re out by the school or near the golf course, the wind speed is usually higher than what you see on the generic national apps. Today we’re seeing gusts around 19 mph from the northwest.
In Kimball, the wind is the great equalizer. A 20-degree day with no wind is a "light jacket" day for a Minnesotan. Add a 20 mph gust from the plains, and suddenly you’re looking at a wind chill that can nip at exposed skin in under 30 minutes.
Surviving the January "Whiplash"
When the weather for Kimball MN shifts this fast, your house takes a beating. The humidity today is at 81%, but it’s going to crater as the cold front moves in. This is when you start hearing the floorboards creak and your skin starts feeling like parchment paper.
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Experts from the UMN Climate Adaptation Partnership suggest that these rapid swings—thawing one day and flash-freezing the next—are the hardest on our local infrastructure. It creates potholes on the backroads faster than the county can fill them.
Actionable Steps for the Upcoming Cold Snap
Since we are staring down sub-zero highs by the weekend, there are a few things you should actually do today while it’s still "warm" out.
- Check your tire pressure. When the temp drops from 40°F to -5°F, your tires will lose significant pressure. Don't wait for the sensor to light up on Highway 55.
- Clear the slush now. Anything that is wet on your driveway today will be a solid block of ice by Saturday morning. Chip it away while it's soft.
- Swap the washer fluid. Make sure you have the -20°F or -30°F rated purple or blue stuff. The summer "bug wash" will freeze in your lines tomorrow night.
- Monitor the humidity. Keep your indoor humidifier around 30-35%. Any higher and you’ll get frost buildup on the inside of your windows during the Saturday cold snap, which leads to moldy sills come spring.
The weather for Kimball MN is never boring, but it is predictable if you look at the patterns. We’re moving from a "thaw" phase into a "deep freeze" phase. Get your heavy gear ready, keep the gas tank at least half full to prevent line freeze-up, and maybe grab an extra bag of salt from the hardware store before the Thursday snow hits.