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Comments on the first half of January 2026

Comments on the first half of January 2026: Weather for the first half of January 2026 has produced mostly warmer than normal temperatures across Minnesota. Most climate stations report a mean temperature for the first half of the month that is 6°F to 10°F above normal. A number of places earlier this week reported daytime high temperatures of 50°F or greater. Some of these climate stations were Canby, Windom, Worthington, Marshall, Madison, Pipestone, Lamberton, and Tracy, all areas of the state where snow cover is sparse on nonexistent. Over Tuesday through Thursday this week a few Minnesota climate stations reported new record daily high temperatures, including 53°F at Marshall, 46°F at Caledonia, and 42°F at Mora. BTW, it looks like starting Saturday, January 17 and lasting through at least January 22nd temperatures across the state will be below normal, with several nights of subzero temperature readings. Soils are frozen to a depth of 6 to 8 inches in many areas. Except for north...
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Very damp, icy start to January:

Very damp, icy start to January: Many climate observers have already reported precipitation of a half inch to one inch this month, and commonly monthly normal precipitation for January as a whole is half an inch to an inch. January snowfall so far has been less than 4 inches in most places. A few areas in the north like International Falls, Ely, Kabetogama, and Grand Marais have reported 6 to 8 inches of snow. More problematic for travel and for schools has been the icy conditions brought on by freezing rain and freezing fog. Many areas reported 2-3 days of such conditions this week as temperatures hovered 6°F either side of 32°F. There were a number of car accidents as well as pedestrian slips and falls. At least the howling winds of December have not recurred again this month. The Minnesota State Climatology Office provided details about the freezing rains over January 5-6 this week and how impactful it was. More thawing temperatures will occur Monday and Tuesday of next week, as da...
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Climate Summary for December of 2025

Climate Summary for December of 2025: The year 2025 concluded with a colder than normal December. Most climate observers reported a mean monthly temperature that was 2°F to 5°F cooler than normal. Temperature extremes for the month were 55°F at Brainerd on the 16th to -28°F at Itasca State Park on the 19th. There were numerous nights of subzero temperatures, mostly in central and northern counties, as well as several days with Wind Chill values from -25°F to -45°F. In fact, with all the subzero temperature readings, Minnesota reported the coldest temperature in the 48 contiguous states on 10 days during the month. With a statewide average monthly temperature of 13.1°F, it was the coldest December since 2013. Precipitation was mixed during the month, with many climate stations reporting above normal values, and many reporting below normal values. The statewide average was about 1 inch, but a large number of climate stations reported over 1.50 inches of precipitation, and some reported o...
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Some notes on MN climate extremes in 2025

Some notes on MN climate extremes in 2025: It is the time of year to look back 12 months and be reminded of what our Minnesota climate produced for us to cope with. A few notes: Highest maximum temperature: 101°F at Marshall (Lyon County) on June 22nd, Granite Falls and Benson also reported 100°F that day. Lowest minimum temperature: -42°F at Kabetogama (St Louis County) and at Seagull Lake (Cook County) on January 10th. Wettest single day: 6.86 inches of rain at Raymond (Chippewa County) on June 13th; both Grand Meadow and Waseca reported over 6 inches of rain on August 17th. Highest total precipitation for the year: 44 inches at Waseca; Austin reported 43.02 inches. Lowest total precipitation for the year: 17.38 inches at Park Rapids (Hubbard County). Normal annual precipitation there is about 23.85 inches. Many other north-central and northeastern areas of the state reported well below normal precipitation for the year. Wettest month in 2025: 5.16 inches statewide average rainf...
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Warmth, then rain, then wind

Warmth, then rain, then wind: December continues to track cooler than normal across Minnesota, with most climate stations reporting an average temperature so far that is 6°F to 10°F below normal. Many northern communities have already reported 10-12 nights of subzero temperatures, while even southern climate stations have reported 5-6 subzero nights. Perhaps the most significant weather anomalies across Minnesota this past week were the significant warm up on December 16 and 17, followed by the rains early on December 18th, and the extremely high winds that followed. Following what had been consistently cooler than normal temperatures through the first two weeks of the month, December 16 and 17 brought temperatures that were 15°F to 20°F warmer than normal over much of the state. Daytime temperatures soared into the40s F and even some 50s F on those days. Some climate stations reported setting new record high daily maximum temperatures. Among these reports were: December 16th: 47°F at ...
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