English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Rochester, MN

Less than a week after a late-season blizzard dumped over a foot of snow on our neck of the woods, now record warm temperatures have put Rochester and much of southeast Minnesota directly in their bullseye.

In fact, forecasters say Minnesota's Med City may be on track for one of the warmest first weekends of spring EVER, and we could now break a record that dates back well over 100 years!

From Blizzard to 77 Degrees: Rochester’s Wild Weather Swing

As we know, living in Minnesota means that if you don't like the current weather, wait five minutes and it'll change, right? And that's sure been the case so far this winter. We've already seen more snowstorms this winter than we did the past few years, along with a brutal 10-day cold snap that sent temperatures to double-digits below zero.

ALSO INTERESTING: MN Vodka Now Best in the US in New National Survey Beating Out Tito's, Absolut, Grey Goose and More

Then of course, we had a February thaw over the Valentine's Day weekend, with temperatures that hit 50 degrees on February 14th and remained in the upper 40s for much of the next few days.

How This Weekend Could Rank Among Rochester’s Warmest Starts to Spring

As we head into spring, warmer-than-usual temperatures aren't necessarily unheard of here in Rochester, of course. Check out how warm it was on these first weekends of spring (around March 20th), according to RecordTemps:

Considering that the National Weather Service says that our average high temperature on the first weekend of Spring in Rochester is between 42 and 45 degrees, those high temperatures stand out as being quite a bit warmer.

Rochester Forecast: Record High Could Fall Saturday

And this year, we could add some warmer temps to that table, and maybe even break a record. According to the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS) office in La Crosse, WI, Rochester is set to hit a high temperature of 77 degrees on Saturday, March 21st, 2026. If we get that warm, it would break the previous record high of 70 degrees, which was set way back in 1918!

The forecast for Sunday, March 22nd, is a little more seasonal, though still above average, with high temperatures expected to top out near 50 degrees, a trend that looks to continue through much of the next week, as well.

"Six Plays", a new book by R.W. Leland, has been released by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.

A new body of work that bridges the gap between literary depth and theatrical feasibility.

Refining his creative voice while serving as a college professor, R.W. Leland waited until the conclusion of his teaching career to execute these projects fully. This unique trajectory allowed him to prioritize authentic expression over commercial pressure.

"It's a great luxury to have been able to write without the need to earn a living from it," says Leland. For him, the needs of commerce and the integrity of authentic expression parted company long ago. That isn't to say authentic work has no commercial value, but rather that it must spring from a more important origin.

Despite this commitment to artistic purity, Leland's work is deeply grounded in the "real world" of the theatre. Drawing on his extensive background in directing, he meticulously crafted each script to satisfy the five pillars of production: the playwright's language, the actor's performance, the director's vision, the producer's requirements, and the stage designer's constraints.

The author views these written pages not as a final product, but as an invitation. A play trapped on the page is an audition of sorts. It seeks to belong, first in the imagination of the reader, and eventually as a visual construct on stage. Even a brief encounter with a story can change the direction of a life.

"Six Plays" is a 362-page paperback with a retail price of $24.00 (eBook $19.00). The ISBN is 979-8-89978-041-7. Published by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For members of the press, to request a review copy or author interview, please visit https://bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com/pages/media-requests or to buy the book, visit our online bookstore at https://bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com/products/six-plays . For more information on publishing services, please visit https://www.dorrancepublishing.com/

If you've lived in Rochester, Minnesota for a bit, you know that we are in a place where the weather can be unpredictable. This week though...it is weather gone wild in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

This week, we were wearing all the winter gear on Sunday as over a foot of snow dumped in our area. Wednesday, we were still feeling 19 degrees on our face. By the end of the weekend, we'll be wearing shorts and sandals...and probably opening our windows.

One Week, Two Completely Different Seasons in Rochester, Minnesota

Minnesota has a few perks - we've got 10,000 + lakes, we have one of the best state fairs ever, Como Park Zoo is free (and amazing), the epic Mall of America is next door to Ikea, and the world-class Mayo Clinic is in our backyard.

Seriously, Mayo Clinic is about a block from our radio station.

One thing that no one ever really explains though is that we can get two different seasons in a matter of days. Example...this week in Minnesota.

Tuesday, March 17th - parts of Southeast Minnesota woke up to a few new inches of snow. According to the National Weather Service La Crosse, some areas even experienced freezing drizzle.

Wednesday, March 18th - low near 19 degrees, cold and damp at times. Probably going to want to wear a coat and even a hat if you are out for a bit.

Thursday, March 19th - still a bit brisk but the high will get around 50 degrees. It will feel at times like a mini-heat wave. But that is only because we just felt the frozen tundra on our face for months. Warm enough to grab a free cone though at Dairy Queen for Free Cone Day.

Friday, March 20th - First Day Of Spring! We aren't at the point where flowers are poking through the ground but we will feel that warmth as it gets into the 60s. Also...lots of puddles and mud are anticipated. We just had over a foot of snow dumped in our area about 5 days ago.

READ MORE: Free Stuff You Can Grab In Rochester On The First Day Of Spring

Saturday, March 21st - Nothing says the start of spring like a high near 75 degrees. Open those windows, find your shorts.

Don't Get Too Comfortable With Those 70+ Degree Temperatures

Mother Nature loves to give us reminders that she is in control. This weekend is a prime example of that.

After we soak in that vitamin D on Saturday as the rays beat down 70+ degrees on our pale, Minnesotan legs, we will see a 20 to 30 degree drop in those temperatures on Sunday.

What Does This Huge Change In Temperatures Mean For Those Who Live In Southeast Minnesota

If you were hoping to leave the winter coat behind now that "spring" is on the calendar, think again. Here's what these yo-yo temps mean to those of us who live in Southeast Minnesota:

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The latest forecasting models indicate the track of a major winter storm approaching Minnesota has shifted the heaviest snow band to the north of Rochester, but most of southeastern Minnesota is now included in a blizzard warning.

Rochester and southeastern Minnesota are still expecting major impacts from the storm, which is now forecast to deliver an icy mix of precipitation overnight and periods of heavy snow on Sunday. A winter storm warning will be in effect in the Rochester area from 7 PM tonight through 1 PM Monday and now the National Weather Service has added a blizzard warning from 10 AM on the Sunday through 7 AM on Monday.

The blizzard warning, which earlier covered areas west of the I-35 corridor in southern Minnesota, is due to high winds that are predicted to accompany the backend of the storm as the low pressure center moves off to the east. Forecasters say northwest winds gusting as high as 50 mph could produce whiteout conditions.

According to the National Weather Service, southeastern Minnesota can expect light snow to develop tonight before warm air moves into the region. The precipitation is then predicted to change over to sleet and freezing rain, which could continue into Sunday morning and possibly early Sunday afternoon. The latest forecast says two-tenths of an inch of ice could coat roadways, parking lots, sidewalks, and driveways.

Eventually, the sleet and freezing rain, which could be heavy at times, are expected to transition back to snow Sunday afternoon. The National Weather Service is currently predicting 5–9 inches of accumulation in the Rochester area by Monday morning, when strong northwest winds are expected to cause blowing snow that could continue into the early afternoon.

Areas just south of Rochester are currently forecast to see 4–8 inches of accumulation, while more than a foot is possible just north of Rochester in parts of Wabasha and Goodhue counties. That heavy band of snow extends across most of central Minnesota, and the National Weather Service indicates a narrower band of snow that could produce close to 20 inches of accumulation, extending from near Willmar through the Twin Cities and into Wisconsin.

Forecasters say there is high confidence that travel conditions will be dangerous to impossible in many parts of Minnesota throughout the day Sunday.

Governor Tim Walz yesterday activated the Minnesota National Guard to provide assistance during the coming storm. His office says the request for the activation came from Steele County to provide personnel, equipment, facilities, and resources that may be needed to respond to the severe weather event.

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Weather conditions are set to turn from high winds to a blizzard over the weekend. With that, the city of Rochester and Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) are now preparing for the storm and advise how you can stay safe while traveling.

“[We’re] just making sure all of our trucks are ready...plows are on, salt’s loaded, ready to go out, and make sure everyone’s available.” Public Works Street Maintenance Supervisor Jake Busho said.

KTTC’s First Alert predicts a mix of freezing rain and sleet that could create slick spots along certain roads and highways. Busho said the snowfall predictions could be up to 20 inches.

Rochester and Olmsted County could see between 7-12″ of snow, with a wider accumulation range across southeast Minnesota. A winter storm warning is in effect from 7 p.m. on Saturday to 1 p.m. on Monday.

Despite the weather conditions, Busho asks residents to continue abiding by even-odd parking rules. He says doing this “allows us [Public Works] to plow the road from curb to curb,” and “get those emergency vehicles through the streets as needed.”

Busho said the city has 25 active plow trucks over the weekend. MNDOT’s Rochester shop is also chipping in 16 of their own.

MNDOT staff encouraged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, adding that it may be difficult for plows and emergency vehicles to rescue stranded drivers.

“It’s strongly encouraged, if no travel is advised, to stay home until it’s safe to come out again,” Steve Kazek with MNDOT said. “We don’t need to be in an accident,” he added. “Keep everybody safe.”

The City of Rochester posted reminders about parking requirements, public transit and overnight parking in advance of the snowfall on its website.

Find stories like this and more, in our apps.