Minnesota WeatherTalk

Hello readers: WeatherTalk will not be published March 18 or 25. The next WeatherTalk will be available on Friday, April 1. 

Cold Grip on Minnesota About to Reverse: Following a colder than normal January and February, March has brought a good share of cold temperatures as well with over half of the Minnesota climate station network reporting some subzero lows this month so far. In fact, climate observers in 10 northern counties have reported minus 20°F or colder so far this month, and most areas of the state are reporting an average temperature through the first 10 days of the month that ranges from 1 to 5 degrees F below normal. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center Outlook Models for March favored below normal temperatures across most of the state (certainly true for the first half of the month), but it appears to be this is going to be wrong. Starting on Sunday (March 13) and for much of the rest of the month our weather pattern will bring warmer than normal temperatures. Though not record-setting warm temperatures by any means, but nevertheless it appears that this warming trend will be persistent. It

Remembering 10 Years Ago: Minnesota's Warmest March: The first few days of March have brought a mixed temperature pattern across Minnesota: generally colder than normal temperatures in northern parts of the state, and warmer than normal temperatures in southern parts of the state. Already temperatures have varied widely across the state this month with readings of 50°F or greater in Lyon, Watonwan, Redwood, Faribault, and Pipestone Counties on March 1st (57°F at Pipestone), and then readings of -27°F at Embarrass and Brimson on March 3rd. The balance of the month looks like it will bring cooler than normal temperatures until the last week off the month. It was just 10 years ago (2012), that Minnesota recorded the warmest March in state history with a statewide mean monthly temperature of nearly 42°F, about 14°F above normal. March was one of 9 months in 2012 that was warmer than normal, producing the 2nd warmest year in state history. But it was by far the most record-setting m