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Back-to-back snowstorms with high winds

Back-to-back snowstorms with high winds: March 12-16 brought powerful back-to-back winter storms across portions of Minnesota, not uncommon for the month of March. The first storm over March 12-13 brought extremely high winds (above 60 mph wind gusts in many areas) and heavy snowfalls to northeastern areas of the state, especially the north shore landscapes along Lake Superior. Many areas reported 9 to 13 inches of snow, with blizzard conditions as well. A few long term climate stations reported daily record snowfalls, including: 7.8 inches at Brimson 7.0 inches at Embarrass and Two Harbors 6.8 inches at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center This March 12-13 storm brought remarkably high winds. Many areas, including the Twin Cities, reported wind gusts of 60 mph or greater. For a few locations record-setting March wind gusts were reported, including 53 mph at St Cloud (record for March 13) 60 mph at MSP (record for March 13 and highest since March of 2017) 69 mph at Rochester, recor...
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Big Swings in March Weather

Big Swings in March Weather: Through the first third of March most climate stations in Minnesota are showing an average monthly temperature that is 5°F to 8°F above normal. In fact, many areas of the state have seen temperatures in the 50s F on several days, and over March 8th and 9th, there were multiple reports of afternoon temperatures in the 60s F, including the Twin Cities. Both Pipestone and Worthington reached 70°F, the first time since last November 15th that temperatures have reached that high in the state. Beginning on Sunday and lasting through Tuesday, temperatures will take a dive and range from 15° to 20°F below normal across the state. A rollercoaster ride in temperatures is often typical of March. The driver for the temperature decline is a strong low-pressure system that will cross the area over Saturday and Sunday, bringing a widespread swath of snow. A few areas of the state have already picked up 4 to 8 inches of snow so far tis month, but this weekend will bri...
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Cool start, then March turns quite mild

Cool start, then March turns quite mild: After starting the month with cooler than normal temperatures (many subzero mornings in the north over the 1st and 2nd), March produced quite a series of warm days this week. Most climate stations have reported daytime highs in the 40s F for the middle and end of this week, and over 60 climate observers have reported readings of 50°F or greater. In many areas nighttime temperatures were kept well above normal for this time of year because of the formation of fog, which took a while to burn off each morning. After a dry start to the month, forecasts continue to favor chances for rain on Friday, and some rain/snow early Saturday, as temperatures cool down a bit. It will also be breezy over the weekend. Then a dramatic warm up on Monday and Tuesday when many areas may see 50°F temperatures again, may be even a few 60°F temperatures. Then a more pronounced cool down for later next week, some cooler than normal days with chances for rain/snow, but...
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Preliminary Climate Summary for February 2026

Preliminary Climate Summary for February 2026: Despite a NOAA Climate Prediction Center Outlook last month that suggested February would be colder than normal in Minnesota, the measured climate data show that we were significantly warmer than normal. Most climate stations report a mean monthly temperature for February that ranges from 5°F to 9°F above normal. Extremes for the month were 63°F at Marshall (Lyon County) on the 16th to -29°F at Seagull Lake (Cook County) on the 3rd. Within the statewide climate station network, there were 138 daily record high maximum temperature records set or tied, and there were 34 daily record high minimum temperature records set or tied. Most of these occurred during mid-month, with over 45 daily temperature records reported around the state on a very warm Valentine’s Day (February 14. Marshall (Lyon County) reported 11 days with a high temperature of 50°F or greater and two days of 60°F or higher. Overall, the statewide average temperature for ...
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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...
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