Minnesota WeatherTalk

Preliminary Climate Summary for January: January 2015 started out much like last year with a spell of much colder than normal temperatures.  At least five communities saw temperatures plummet to -30 F or colder during the first half of the month.  But unlike last year, the second half of the month brought a long stretch of warmer than normal temperatures to the state, more than offsetting the earlier cold spell.  Most observers report a mean January temperature that ranges from 3 to 5 degrees F warmer than normal, marking this month among the top 20 warmest months of January in state history.  Extremes for the month ranged from -35F on the 13th at Cook (St Louis County) to 49F at Milan on the 19th and at Wells on the 26th.  Most observers reported a drier than normal month of January.  In fact a number of locations reported less than half of normal precipitation.  On a statewide basis it was the driest January since that of 2008.  For most climate stations the monthly total snowfa

Snow Update: This week brought a light dusting of snow to many Minnesota communities.  Most received less than an inch, although a few observers reported 1-2 inches.  This trend is disconcerting for snow lovers as the seasonal snowfall totals continue to lag behind normal, and especially when compared to the numbers from the past two winters.  So far this month only a few places have seen over 10 inches of snowfall, and when considering the seasonal snowfall totals going back to last November most places in the state have seen less than 25 inches.  Some of the snowiest places this winter include Embarrass, Kabetogama, and Chisholm with over 30 inches, International Falls with 36 inches, and Isabella with 45 inches.  Conversely, Pokegama Dam in Itasca County, normally a snowy spot in the state has reported less than a foot. For the balance of the month it looks like there will be several opportunities to see significant snowfalls, including Saturday and Sunday nights of this comin