Coldest Temperatures of the Fall Came this Week: Many communities around the state reported the coldest temperatures of the Fall Season during this week, especially on November 25-26. Scores of climate stations reported morning lows in the single digits. Fourteen climate stations in northern counties reported subzero low temperatures, including -5°F at International Falls, Warroad, and Warren, as well as -4°F at Kabetogama, Orr, and Hibbing. Furthermore, on some days this week the afternoon high temperatures remained in the teens and twenties. With moderate winds many areas reported subzero Wind Chill readings this week, including -16°F at Warroad. The colder temperatures have promoted more surface ice formation on area lakes and shallow soil temperatures have dropped into the low 30s F. As a result, future storm systems that pass across Minnesota are more likely to deposit snow that will cover the ground and last longer. Weekly Weather Potpourri: In this week’s AGU-EOS Bulletin
Last week’s rain/snow event helped alleviate drought: The widespread precipitation of last week was welcome relief from the year-long drought conditions that prevailed, mostly in northern Minnesota. Many climate stations reported 1.5 to 2.0 inches of precipitation. In fact, 40 daily precipitation records were tied or set within the state climate network by this storm system. Along the shoreline communities of Lake Superior from Two Harbors to Grand Portage, many climate stations reported over 3 inches, up to nearly 4 inches. There was flooding in downtown Grand Marais. In areas with colder temperatures some significant snowfall amounts were reported. Thorhult (Beltrami County), Big Falls (Koochiching County), and Warroad (Roseau County) reported over a foot of snowfall last week. With the abundant precipitation of last week, the landscape area in Severe to Extreme Drought across Minnesota shrunk to just 27 percent this week according to the US Drought Monitor. The area in Extre