Cold settles in for a short stay: Since giving a preliminary January climate summary last Friday, colder than normal weather has dominated the state. Over the last four days of the month at least 16 Minnesota climate stations reported a minimum temperature reading of -30°F or colder. Minnesota reported the coldest temperature in the 48 contiguous states on January 27 (-25°F at Baudette), January 28 (-30°F at International Falls), January 29 (-39°F at Ash Lake), and even February 1st (-34°F at Kabetogama). The reading of -39°F at Ash Lake (St Louis County) was the coldest temperature reported in Minnesota since February of last year. Kabetogama set a record low reading on January 29th with -36°F and Cook (St Louis County) reported a record cold maximum temperature that day of -10°F. To finish off the week, on Friday, February 3rd International Falls reported -36°F, coldest in the 48 contiguous states, and Grand Marais Airport reported a Wind Chill of -49°F. Despite the cold finish
Preliminary Climate Summary for January 2023: With just four days left in the month, I can still offer a perspective on the climate summary for January. Despite the colder than normal temperatures expected for the last few days of the month, most climate stations in Minnesota will report an average monthly temperature that is 3 to 7°F warmer than normal. Over two-thirds of the days in the month brought warmer than normal temperatures, with the warmest coming over the first two days of the month. Preston (Fillmore County) reported a 45°F high temperatures on the 1st. Seagull Lake (Cook County) reported a minimum temperature of -23°F on January 6th which is the coldest temperature for the month so far, but there may be colder readings in northern Minnesota over the last few days of the month. Minnesota reported the coldest temperature in the nation twice during the month. Most climate observers reported a wetter than normal January, with the exception of climate stations in the nor