Record Warmth Then April Showers: Following a warm and sunny Easter Weekend, temperatures on Monday, April 5th bounced up even higher surpassing 80°F at over 60 locations and setting new daily record highs for the date at 44 long term climate stations in Minnesota. The high temperature of 88°F reported at Granite Falls and Redwood Falls tied the all-time state record high set at Madison (Lac Qui Parle County) in 1991. For many communities the temperatures on April 5th marked the warmest such readings for so early in the spring. A more comprehensive look at the record-setting day was reported by the Minnesota State Climatology Office website. The record warmth also ushered in some very humid air from the south. Dewpoints rose into the 50s and 60s F for the first time this year. MSP set a new record dew point on April 7th with a reading of 61°F (old record was 54°F in 2001). MSP also set a new record dew point on April 8th with a reading of 59°F (old record was 58°F back in 1903)
Climate Summary for March 2021: Mean monthly temperatures in March 2021 were above normal across the state by 7 to 9 degrees F. Some climate stations reported 26 of the 31 days were warmer than normal. Extremes for the month ranged from 84°F at Madison (Lac Qui Parle County) on the 29 th , a new statewide record for the date, to just -21°F at Camp Norris (Lake of the Woods County) on March 1 st . On a statewide basis March of 2021 will among the top eight warmest since 1895. Five of the 9 warmest months of March in state history have occurred since 2000 (2000, 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2021). For MSP March of 2021 was the 8 th warmest in history (back to 1872), while for International Falls it ranked as 3rd warmest, Duluth 8 th warmest, Rochester 9 th warmest, and 8 th warmest at Saint Cloud. At Park Rapids, MN it was the 6 th warmest March in history. Most areas of the state reported above normal precipitation for March, except for portions of the northwest, north