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Snowiest February Continues

Snowiest February Continues: “The best cross country skiing conditions ever for the month of February” is a common expression this month, at least across many parts of the state including the Twin Cities.

In addition to the 120 daily snowfall records set or tied this month in the Minnesota climate station network, Wednesday of this week (February 20th) brought yet another record-setting snowfall to at least 25 climate stations in Minnesota, including 11.3 inches at New Ulm.

So far over a dozen climate stations in Minnesota have reported total February snowfall of 30 inches or more, with a station near Mankato reporting 40.2 inches so far this month. Only 7 Minnesota climate stations have ever reported over 40 inches of February snowfall. With nearly a week to go in the month, some climate stations may approach the all-time February snowfall record of 51 inches set at Pigeon River Bridge (Cook County) in 1939.

Many climate stations have already reported the snowiest February in their …
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Snowy February Continues

Snowy February Continues: Many climate observers have reported measurable snowfalls on over half of the days so far this month. Over 45 climate stations have reported 20 or more inches of snow so far, on a pace to be the snowiest February in state history. Just north of Two Harbors they have received over 30 inches for the month. In addition, over 120 daily snowfall records have been set this month in the Minnesota climate network, including 8.0 inches at Hokah and La Crescent on the 12th.

Some climate stations have already reported their snowiest month of February in history. Some of these stations include:
Eau Claire, WI 28.7 inches
Hastings 26.7 inches
Lake city 25.0 inches
Theilman 23.7 inches
Leech Lake 24.5 inches
Minnesota City 22.5 inches
Wabasha 22.1 inches

NOAA-National Weather Service reports that the Twin Cities with 22.2 inches of snowfall in February ranks 4th most historically. MSP reported new daily record snowfalls on February 7th (5.9”), February 10th (5.9”), a…
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Cold and Snowy February in 2019

Cold and Snowy February in 2019: The cold temperature trend from the second half of January has re-established itself around the state in February, but this time coupled with widespread significant snowfalls (the first of which came over February 4-5). For many climate stations in the state this month is already the snowiest of the winter season so far, with reports of 10 to 20 inches in many places. Cloquet and Moose Lake reported over 10 inches alone on February 7th, while MSP reported a new record amount for the date of 5.7 inches. Many parts of the state were under a Blizzard Warning for February 7th.

All of the models point to a continuation of the cold and snow for much of the month. Historically, February is the snowiest month of the snow season only about a tenth of all years, so this is kind of rare. The last time February was the snowiest month was the winter of 2015-2016. We all know that March and April can bring over 20 inches of snow, so it is perhaps too early t…
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January Climate Summary: Records Galore

January Climate Summary: Records Galore What a wild ride in temperature patterns during January. The month will go into the Minnesota record books with most climate stations reporting a mean monthly temperature that is 1 to 4 degrees F colder than normal. What a deceptive statistic that is. It was intimidating to see the unanticipated extremes swings in temperature occur. For the first half of the month (January 1-15) mean temperatures around the state were some of the warmest in history, averaging 11 to 13 degrees F warmer than normal. Embedded in the warm pattern there were over 70 daily records broken or tied in the Minnesota climate observing network with respect to daytime maximum or warm nighttime minimum temperatures.

Then the other shoe dropped and during the second half of the month, when temperatures averaged 12 to 16 degrees F colder than normal. Over 70 daily record minimum temperature values were broken or tied within the climate observing network, and over 70 da…
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