Minnesota WeatherTalk

Minnesota Weather and Climate Headlines from 2022: The two key climate words for Minnesota in 2022 are windy and drought. Both were prevalent during the year and impacted many citizens. In terms of both average wind speeds, as well as frequency of wind gusts over 30 mph, 2022 brought the highest numbers across Minnesota in over four decades. There were many days that brought damaging winds (over 50 mph). There is no simple explanation for this, and I am sure this anomaly in our weather will be studied in years to come. After one of the wettest combinations of April and May in state history, there were no signs of drought present in Minnesota during June of 2022, but by the second week of November over 50 percent of the state was in Moderate Drought and over 20 percent in Severe or Extreme Drought. Some of the worst drought was in areas of the Twin Cities and in south-central and southwestern counties, where rainfall deficiencies for the year ranged from minus 10 to minus 15 inches. Des...

Another snowy, windy week, but with dangerous cold: Similar to last week, the weather pattern across Minnesota this week favored wind and snow, but this time with an Arctic Chill. Last week brought temperatures from 10°F to 15°F above normal with rain and heavy snow, as well as wind. This week temperatures have been from 12° to 25°F colder than normal bringing significant but fluffy snowfall to many areas and lots of wind. Many climate stations have reported overnight lows from -10°F to -20°F this week, with at least six northern locations reporting -30°F to -35°F (Warren in Marshall County). Both Crookston and Red Lake Falls reported a daily high temperature of only -17°F on Wednesday, December 21st. The subzero temperatures are expected to prevail in Minnesota through the Christmas weekend. Snowfall was widespread again this week across the state, but not the heavy-wet kind that we experienced last week. Many areas reported 4 to 12 inches. Some climate stations reported new re...

Warm/Wet Trends in December: Since 2004 wetter than normal Decembers have been a Minnesota climate signature. Thirteen of the 17 years have brought abundant precipitation to the state in December. Over the same period of time (17 years) eleven have brought warmer than normal temperatures during December, with the warmest December in state history in 2015. This week’s weather clearly reminded me of these trends as temperatures have been averaging 10 to 15°F about normal and abundant precipitation, both rain and snow has been persistent around the state. With daily temperatures reaching into the mid 30s F to low 40s F across the state, much of the precipitation this week has been measured as rainfall, especially in southern counties. Over Tuesday through Thursday, many climate stations have reported precipitation totals ranging from 0.50 inches to 1.25 inches. Brimson in St Louis County has reported well over 2 inches. In central and northern areas of the state observers commonly r...

Widespread Subzero Temperatures This Week: December 5-8 brought some of the coldest temperatures in many months to Minnesota. Over 40 counties reported subzero temperatures this week. A sampling includes -27°F at Warren (Marshall County), -24°F at Warroad (Roseau County), -22°F at Baudette (Lake of the Woods County), -21°F at International Falls (Koochiching County), and -20°F at Kabetogama (St Louis County). Just to the south of the Twin Cities at Rosemount it was -1°F and in the southwestern corner of the state at Pipestone it was -2°F. Cold as these temperatures were, no new cold minimum records were set from the long-term climate network. If snow depths were greater and more widespread around the state, I am sure these subzero readings would have been even colder. Soil temperatures in the top 6 inches have fallen into the upper 20s F in many areas now. Health Effects of Winter Weather Revisited: Though many Minnesotans truly enjoy the winter season, it also tests our health....

Climate Summary for November 2022: Most climate observers reported a mean monthly temperature that was close to normal, or in a few cases 1 or 2°F above normal. Extremes for the month ranged from 79°F at Granite Falls (November 2nd) and Theilman (November 3rd) to -6°F at Seagull Lake (Cook County) on the 20th. Overall. Temperatures were up and down with 87 daily maximum temperature records set or tied within the state climate network, mostly in the first 10 days of the month which were extraordinarily warm; and a handful of cold low temperature or cold high temperature records set over the balance of the month. Minnesota reported the coldest temperature in the 48 contiguous states only once during the month (3°F at Cotton on the 16th). Most areas of the state reported above normal precipitation in November, especially in northeastern Minnesota. Only a few spots in northwestern and south-central Minnesota reported below normal precipitation. A number of climate stations reported o...