Warm temperatures continue, drought worsens: Since last Friday, March 8th, fifteen more record daily high temperature records have been set in the Minnesota climate station network. Most of these occurred over March 10 and 11. Some of these included 75°F at Milan (Chippewa County), 74°F at Rochester (Olmsted County), and 73°F at Redwood Falls (Redwood County). The Twin Cities also set a record high on March 11 with a reading of 68°F. Through the first half of March, there have been 115 record high daily temperature records set or tied in the state. Average temperatures for the month so far are running 11°F to 15°F above normal. Even with some cooler than normal temperature expected over the next 10 days, March is highly likely to end up as another warmer than normal month. An interesting note about drought: By the end of a record-setting wet month of December, 2023 the area of Minnesota designated to be in Moderate Drought or worse was about 40 percent, but so far the first few
March Warmth: The biggest weather headline this week occurred when March 3rd (Sunday) brought record-setting high temperatures to at least 60 Minnesota communities. Many observers reported afternoon highs in the 60s and 70s F. Some of the records included: 78°F at Theilman (Wabasha County) new statewide record for the date 75°F at Wells (Faribault County), Waseca (Waseca County), Austin (Mower County), and Hastings Dam (Dakota County) 74°F at MSP, Jordan (Scott County), Albert Lea (Freeborn County), Zumbrota (Goodhue County) 73°F at Caledonia (Houston County), Winnebago (Faribault County), Preston (Fillmore County) 72°F at Rochester, Grand Meadow (Mower County), Dodge Center (Dodge County) 71°F at Fairmont (Martin County), La Crescent (Winona County) 70°F at St Cloud and Elk River (Sherburne County) 65°F at Lamberton (Redwood County) These were the warmest temperatures ever for so early in March. Following the record warmth, very dry air arrived on Tuesday, March 5th as afternoon dew