Minnesota WeatherTalk

Coldest Temperatures of the Fall Came this Week: Many communities around the state reported the coldest temperatures of the Fall Season during this week, especially on November 25-26. Scores of climate stations reported morning lows in the single digits. Fourteen climate stations in northern counties reported subzero low temperatures, including -5°F at International Falls, Warroad, and Warren, as well as -4°F at Kabetogama, Orr, and Hibbing. Furthermore, on some days this week the afternoon high temperatures remained in the teens and twenties. With moderate winds many areas reported subzero Wind Chill readings this week, including -16°F at Warroad. The colder temperatures have promoted more surface ice formation on area lakes and shallow soil temperatures have dropped into the low 30s F. As a result, future storm systems that pass across Minnesota are more likely to deposit snow that will cover the ground and last longer. Weekly Weather Potpourri: In this week’s AGU-EOS Bulletin ...

Last week’s rain/snow event helped alleviate drought: The widespread precipitation of last week was welcome relief from the year-long drought conditions that prevailed, mostly in northern Minnesota. Many climate stations reported 1.5 to 2.0 inches of precipitation. In fact, 40 daily precipitation records were tied or set within the state climate network by this storm system. Along the shoreline communities of Lake Superior from Two Harbors to Grand Portage, many climate stations reported over 3 inches, up to nearly 4 inches. There was flooding in downtown Grand Marais. In areas with colder temperatures some significant snowfall amounts were reported. Thorhult (Beltrami County), Big Falls (Koochiching County), and Warroad (Roseau County) reported over a foot of snowfall last week. With the abundant precipitation of last week, the landscape area in Severe to Extreme Drought across Minnesota shrunk to just 27 percent this week according to the US Drought Monitor. The area in Extre...

At Last, Some November Precipitation: After nearly two weeks without any measurable precipitation for most parts of Minnesota, a large low-pressure system brought widespread rainfall over November 10-12. Some areas of northern Minnesota reported 3-5 inches of snowfall as well, with Warroad reporting 6 inches and Chisholm reporting 6.7 inches. More snowfall is expected this weekend later on Saturday. Many areas reported from half an inch to one and a half inches of rainfall. In southeastern Minnesota observers in Mower, Fillmore, Winona, Wabasha, and Houston Counties reported over an inch and a half of rainfall. And in northeastern Minnesota around Grand Marais and Hovland (Cook County), they reported well over two inches of precipitation. Some climate stations actually reported new daily record amounts of rainfall (mostly for November 11th), including: Brainerd 0.84” Hallock 0.86” Rosemount 0.90” Floodwood 0.95” Thief River Falls 1.09” Zumbrota 1.14” Lake City 1.24” Wabasha 1.30” ...

November Starts Cool: Through the first few days of November many places in Minnesota have reported their coldest temperatures of the autumn season so far, ranging from the teens to the low thirties F. Brimson (St Louis County) reported just 12°F on Friday morning. Even the daily high temperatures only ranged from the mid 30s to low 40s F on some days. The high temperature at Crane Lake on November 2nd only reached 30°F. Temperatures averaged typically from 2 to 4 degrees F cooler than normal over the first four days of the month. Also during this time many climate stations reported a trace of snow, including the University of Minnesota St Paul Campus. Further north in Aitkin, Itasca, Roseau, Koochiching, St Louis, and Lake Counties measurable snowfall was reported, ranging from just 0.1 inches up to 1.0 inches near Winton (St Louis County). Rainfall throughout October helped reduce the area of the Minnesota landscape designated to be in Severe to Extreme Drought to less than 30 ...