Minnesota WeatherTalk

 The Remarkable Climate of December 2023: December of 2023 will forever standout in Minnesota climate history, even if its’ climate signature is only a precursor for what climate change has in store for us. In both temperature and precipitation measurements this December is a singularity in our state’s climate history. The average statewide mean temperature for the month will be around 29.5°F, that is well beyond the previous warmest December (24.8°F in 2015). Most climate stations will report a mean monthly temperature that is 10°F to 14°F above normal. Many areas of the state reported several days with 50°F or higher temperatures, and several reported 60°F or greater. The month brought the warmest Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in state history in terms of both maximum and minimum temperatures, as well as record high dew points in the 50s F. Within the statewide climate observing network, there were over 170 daily record high maximum temperature records and over 240 daily high

Looks like warmest December in state history: It appears that the persistent above normal temperatures, expected to last through mid-January of 2024, will produce the warmest December in history for most parts of Minnesota. Looking at long-term climate stations in Minnesota, several are already reporting the warmest December in their record keeping. These include places like St Cloud, Morris, Crookston, Brainerd, and International Falls. At several other locations the expected warmth over the next 10 days may push them to set a record for warmest December. Some of those locations pushing the record for warmest December include: MSP and Duluth are having the warmest December since 1877, and may break that record. Hibbing and Pipestone are having the warmest December since 1939, and may break that record, Rochester and Albert Lea are having the warmest December since 1931, and may break that record. We may even see more climate stations report temperatures of 50°F or greater this wee

December Warmth Continues: The first half of the month has been dominated by persistent warmer than normal weather. Through the first two weeks of December climate stations are reporting an average temperature that ranges from 8°F to 12°F above normal. On a statewide basis back to 1895 here are the top five warmest first two weeks of December: 1913 and 1939 statewide average temperature 33.1°F 2015 statewide average temperature 32.2°F 1999 statewide average temperature 30.1°F 2023 statewide average temperature 28.4°F 2001 statewide average temperature 28.0°F It is interesting to note that for these Decembers listed above there was little snow or no snow cover, or only intermittent snow cover present throughout the month. It is also interesting to note that El Nino was in play in only two of these years, 2015 and 2023. So far this month within the state climate network over 80 high maximum temperature records have been set, and over 40 high daily minimum temperature records have bee

Warm, Dry Start to December May Persist: Warm and dry are the descriptors for the first week of December. Most observers report an average temperature for the first week of the month that ranges from 6°F to 12°F above normal. This follows a recent December climate trend which shows that 7 of the most recent 9 Decembers have been warmer than normal, and 21 of the past 30 have been warmer than normal (including 3 of the 4 warmest months of December in state history, 1997, 2006 and 2015). Within the state climate station network some record high temperatures were reported this week:  For December 5th: 48°F at Alexandria (Douglas County) 50°F at Georgetown (Clay County) For December 6th: 46°F at Long Prairie (Todd County) 50°F at Wells (Faribault County) 55°F at Lamberston (Redwood County) For December 7th: 46°F at International Falls (Koochiching County) 53°F at St Cloud (Stearns County) 57°F at Crookston (Polk County) 59°F at Moorhead (Clay County) 61°F at Granite Falls (Yellow Medicine

Climate Summary for November: Warm and dry describe the climate for Minnesota during this November. The statewide average temperature for the month (nearly 33.5°F) falls within the warmest 15 Novembers in history (back to 1895), while the statewide average precipitation for the month (around 0.38 inches) falls within the driest 12 Novembers historically. Approximately two-thirds of the days were warmer than normal. Within the Minnesota climate station network average November temperatures ranged from 2°F to 5°F above normal, with larger departures in northern sections of the state. Statewide extremes included 70°F at Hastings Dam (Dakota County) on November 16th, and -11°F at Celina (St Louis County) on November 28th. During the warm spells of weather at mid-month 35 daily maximum temperature records were tied or set, including 69°F at MSP on the 16th. In addition, 10 warm daily minimum temperature records were tied or set. Minnesota reported the lowest temperature in the 48 contig