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Roller coaster temperatures with a big snow storm

Roller coaster temperatures with a big snow storm: The temperature roller coaster pattern continued this week, with many climate stations reporting daily temperatures that ranged from 7 to 13 degrees F warmer than normal (some daytime highs were above the freezing mark), then plummeting to temperatures that were 10 to 20 degrees F colder than normal by Thursday, January 16th. In fact, the reading of -35°F at Fosston (Polk County) on January 16th was the nations lowest temperature reading, the 4th time this month that Minnesota has reported the nation’s lowest temperature. Several places reported minimum temperatures of -20°F or colder on that date, including -26°F at Park Rapids and Staples.

In addition, another episode of dangerous Wind Chill conditions occurred on Thursday the 16th, with many places reporting values of -40°F or colder, including a reading of -45°F at Waskish (Beltrami County). Other dangerous Wind Chill conditions had occurred in places on the 8th and the 11th …
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Highly fluctuating temperatures

Highly fluctuating temperatures: On a statewide basis the first week of 2020 was over 14°F above normal, a mild start to the year. It was 48°F at Preston (Fillmore County) for New Year’s Day. A good deal of cloud cover, as well as higher than normal wind speeds help keep the temperatures above normal throughout this interval. No long term daily maximum or minimum temperature records were set during this warm period, although at Wheaton (Traverse County) on January 3rd they tied the record for the warmest minimum temperature with a reading of 33°F.

Following a cold front passage on January 7th, temperatures plummeted to subzero values around most of the state. In fact it fell into the -30s F at Isabella, Cotton, Kabetogama, and Baudette. A reading of -30°F on the morning of January 8th was a record low at Kabetogama. Warroad only saw of a high temperature of 3°F on the 8th as well. The -34°F reading at Isabella (Lake County) was the nation’s lowest temperature on the 8th and the…
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December Climate Summary

December Climate Summary:
After fluctuating above and below normal for much of the December, temperatures remained well above normal during the last ten days of the month. As a result, most climate stations reported a mean monthly temperature that was from 1 to 4°F above normal, making December only the 3rd month in 2019 with above mean temperature values. Extremes for the month ranged from 51°F at Bemidji (Beltrami County) on the 22nd to -42°F at Isabella (Lake County) on the 18th.

Within the Minnesota climate network there were 26 daily maximum temperature records set or tied; 48 daily high minimum temperature records set or tied; 4 daily low maximum temperature records set or tied; and 15 new daily record low minimum temperature records set or tied. The warmest days statewide were the 8th and the 29th, while the coldest days were the 10th and 11th.

Thanks to the prolonged storminess over the December 28-30 the month ended up much wetter than normal. In fact, for only the second…
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More Summary Remarks for the Climate of 2019

More Summary Remarks for the Climate of 2019: A cooler and wetter than normal year: Overall wettest in state history and the first time that the statewide mean annual precipitation has exceeded 35 inches.

-Wettest place in the state: Owatonna 0.8E (Steele County) with 56.50 inches of precipitation (this could change with the expected weekend storm)
-Driest place in the state: Hallock (Kittson County) with 22.69”, still nearly 1.5 inches greater than normal.
-Wettest month of the year: September with an average of over 6 inches of rainfall statewide.
-Snowiest February in state history: Average snowfall across the state was 28”.
-Largest 1-day rainfall event of 2019 was 7.42 inches at Edgerton (Pipestone County) on September 9th.
-Longest period without measurable precipitation: 22 days (March 16 to April 6) at Hallock (Kittson County).
-Hottest day of the year: July 19 when over 100 climate stations reported high temperatures from 90°F and 98 F. With dew points between 75-80 degre…
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Statewide Recap for the Climate of 2019

Statewide Recap for the Climate of 2019: As we wrap up 2019, it is still likely that 2019 will go into the record books as the wettest year in Minnesota history on a statewide basis, with average precipitation totals across the state of over 35 inches for the year. Seven of the 12 months delivered above normal precipitation to the state in 2019. February of 2019 was the 2nd wettest in state history while September was the 3rd wettest in state history. In addition, October ranked as the 9th wettest in state history. Portions of Rice, Steele, Olmsted, Dodge, and Houston Counties reported over 50 inches of precipitation for the year. On balance most places reported from 5 to 15 inches above normal precipitation for the year. At least 730 daily precipitation records were set or tied within the Minnesota climate network this year. Also, February of 2019 was the snowiest in state history with most places reporting between 30 and 40 inches, and Rosemount reporting over 56 inches! An…
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