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August 19 and 20 brought coolest temperatures for the month

August 19 and 20 brought coolest temperatures for the month: Wednesday and Thursday (August 19-20) brought the coolest temperatures of the month so far for many areas of the state. Many observers reported low temperatures in the 40s and 50s F. Extremely low dew points in northern counties helped overnight low temperatures drop even more. Eleven climate stations in Koochiching, Lake, and St Louis Counties reported low temperatures in the 30s F, with Tower reporting just 33°F on August 19th. This week, scattered thunderstorms brought significant rainfall to parts of Minnesota, especially the north, where several observers reported rainfall totals ranging from 1 to 2 inches. Many other areas in the southern half of the state saw less than a half inch of rain during the week. Drought status in the state remained a big concern with about 30 percent of the landscape still in Moderate Drought, 44 percent in Severe Drought, and 1 percent (parts of Polk, Normand, and Clay Counties in the R...
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Mid-month climate check-up

Mid-month climate check-up: Through the first two weeks of August temperatures have generally been warmer than normal in much of southern Minnesota and cooler than normal in many northern locations where several observers have reported morning low temperatures in the 30s F. On Thursday (August 13) of this week the morning low temperature was just 35°F at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Lake County. Rainfall through the first two weeks of August has remained mostly sparse and spotty. Only areas of south-central and southeastern Minnesota have seen above normal rainfall so far. Much of the state has recorded less than an inch of rainfall so far. According to this week’s U.S. Drought Monitor update, 30 percent of the Minnesota landscape is in Moderate Drought and 45 percent is in Severe Drought. According to the weekly DNR-Stream Flow Reports, many streams in north-central and northeastern Minnesota are funning very low, below the 10th percentile in volume flow for this t...
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Spotty climate pattern to start August

Spotty climate pattern to start August: After enduring many weather/climate challenges in July, Minnesota citizens have seen a somewhat benign and spotty climate pattern emerge for the first week of August. Some areas of the state have recorded average temperatures that are near normal or 1-2°F above normal, while others have recorded mostly below normal temperatures. Atmospheric water vapor content has fallen dramatically from what it was in July, with many days bringing dew points in the 40s and 50s F, a much more comfortable range. Many places have reported daytime high temperatures in the 70s and 80s F. Over August 2nd, observers in northwestern Minnesota (Red Lake, Polk, and Clay Counties) reported afternoon high temperatures in the 90s F, while on August 5th the observer at Brimson (St Louis County) reported a morning low temperature of just 36°F. Rainfall has mostly been sparse or absent, except for portions of south-central and southeastern Minnesota where many climate obs...
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July Climate Summary

July Climate Summary: July of 2026 will be long remembered for its persistent heat and record poor air quality, as well as the wildfires in the BWCA. Average monthly temperatures were generally from 4°F to 6°F above normal across the state, placing this month among the 5 or 6 warmest Julys in state history. In northeastern Minnesota some climate stations reported their 2nd warmest July in history, while in north-central Minnesota it was the third warmest. Many climate observers reported 12 or more days with maximum temperatures of 90°F or greater, and some reported as many at 15 such days. Climate observers in 7 counties reported at least one day with a maximum temperature of 100°F or greater. Remarkably, both Kettle Falls (100°F on the 14th) and Seagull Lake (101°F on the 13th) reported temperatures reaching the century mark for the first time in history there. The NOAA National Weather Service issued multiple Heat Advisories and Extreme Heat Warnings during the month, with Heat ...
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July Heat Has Been Extraordinary

July Heat Has Been Extraordinary: Last week I wrote about the combination of heat and poor air quality, but further analysis shows that the heat was very extraordinary. For example, the statewide average temperature for the 10 days from July 11 to July 20 was 77°F. This is the second highest statewide average temperature in history for this 10-day period, surpassed only by 1936 when the 10-day statewide average was 82.6°F. During this 10-day interval this month, there were 43 daily maximum temperature records set within the state climate station network, including three very unusual ones. Baudette measured 99°F on July 12th, International Falls measured 98°F on July 12th, and Gunflint Lake measured 98°F on July 14th. These temperatures are among the warmest ever measured at those three locations. Even more astonishing, Kettle Falls on the border with Canada and imbedded in Voyageurs National Park, reported a record high temperature of 100°F on July 14, the highest temperature eve...
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