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Snow and high winds this week

Snow and high winds this week: After over a two-week dry spell across most of the state, a slow-moving winter storm brought rain and snow to much of Minnesota over February 17-19 this week. The storm also brought very high winds. There were numerous reports of record daily snowfalls from the climate station network. Some of these included: Reported on February 18th: Pokegama Dam 5.0 inches Cloquet 5.2 inches Duluth 6.3 inches Brimson 11.0 inches Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center 13.0 inches Two Harbors 7NW 20.3 inches Reported on February 19th: Jordan 5.1 inches Brimson 5.7 inches Litchfield 6.0 inches Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center 15.4 inches Grand Marais 17.5 inches Some of the storm total snowfall numbers were a bit staggering, including several along the north shore of Lake Superior. A few examples: 38.6 inches at Hovland (Cook County) 28.4 inches at Wolf Ridge (Lake County) 24.2 inches at Tofte (Cook County) 22.5 inches at Grand Marais (Cook County) 20.3 inche...

Twin Cities Climatology of Days Below Freezing and Freeze-Thaw Cycles

Twin Cities Climatology of Days Below Freezing and Freeze-Thaw Cycles: In a typical Minnesota snow season (Nov-Apr), we experience several long periods of cold when the temperature never gets above freezing (32 F). Even in the heat island of the Twin Cities, there are between 60 and 70 days during each snow season when the maximum temperature never reaches 32 degrees F. This has been the case in the winter of 2025-2026. In fact, so far, since November 1 of 2025, the Twin Cities have seen 51 days when the maximum temperature remained below freezing, and we still have a long way to go in the snow season. BTW, back in the 19th Century, over December 18,1874 to March 8, of 1875, the Twin Cities never saw a temperature above 32° F for 80 consecutive days. For that snow season of 1874-1875 there were 110 days when the daily temperature never reached freezing (32°F) in the Twin Cities. There were 96 such days in the snow season of 1996-1997.and 97 such days in the snow season of 1977-1978...

Mixed weather features to start February

Mixed weather features to start February: A little sun, a little cloud, a few windy days and a few calm days, some warm temperatures and some cold temperatures, as well as some measurable snowfalls were all elements of the first week of February around Minnesota. Over February 1-2, scores of observers reported between 1 and 3 inches of snowfall. Temperatures ranged from -27°F at Gunflint Lake and Baudette on February 2nd (Monday) to 50°F at several locations on Thursday, February 5th. In fact, Worthington, Marshall, and Canby reported 50°F that day, while Slayton (Murray County) reported 51°F. In fact, Thursday, February 5th brought the temperature up to above the freezing mark in the Twin Cities for the first time since January 16th, and for the first time International Falls since January 13th. For now, outlook models favor above normal temperatures to prevail across Minnesota until at least mid-month, and some favor warmer than normal through the third week of February. So undo...

Preliminary Climate Summary for January of 2026

Preliminary Climate Summary for January of 2026: As mentioned last week, the temperature pattern in January was distinctly warmer than normal for the first half of the month, and colder than normal for the second half of the month. Most climate stations in Minnesota reported a mean monthly temperature that was 2°F to 5°F colder than normal. Extremes ranged from 53°F at Canby (Yellow Medicine County) and Marshall (Lyon County) on the 13th to -43°F at Brimson and Kabetogama (St Louis County) on the 24th. Minnesota reported the coldest temperature in the 48 contiguous states 9 times during the month. Most areas of the state reported a slightly above normal number of nights with subzero temperatures. For example, MSP recorded 12 such nights (the 50 yr average is 10), while International Falls recorded 21 such nights (the 50 yr average is 19). Despite the cold second half of January, only a modest number of daily low minimum temperature records were set (perhaps 25) within the state climate...