Minnesota WeatherTalk

Preliminary Climate Summary for November 2024: For the month of November most Minnesota climate stations will report an average monthly temperature that is 4°F to 6°F above normal. Although the month closed with a string of days that brought below normal temperatures, nearly three-fourths of all days during November brought warmer than normal temperatures. Extremes for the month were 79°F at Preston (Fillmore County) and -10 degrees F at Detroit Lakes (Becker County) on November 30. Within the state climate station network, there were 7 daily record high maximum temperature records set or tied during the month, and 37 daily record warm minimum temperatures set. On a statewide basis this November will likely fall among the warmest 11 Novembers in state history. And this November when combined with the warmest September in state history and the 6th warmest October in state history will produce the warmest autumn season in state history on a statewide basis, almost 7 degrees F above n...

Wetter Than Normal November Continues: The pattern of above normal precipitation continued again over this past week, as many climate observers reported between 1 and 2 inches, and in some northeastern counties there were reports of over 2 inches. In addition, on Wednesday and Thursday of this week many observers reported from 0.5 inches to 3 inches of snowfall. A large number of climate stations have now reported over 3 inches of rainfall for the month of November so far. Along the north shore highlands above Lake Superior, observers at Wolf Ridge ELC and Sliver Bay have reported over 5 inches, near record-setting November amounts for them. The current statewide average of 2.35 inches of precipitation for this month ranks as the 14th wettest November in state history and will only be added to over the next 8 days. The precipitation amounts so far helped the drought situation in the state as the area of the Minnesota landscape in Severe Drought declined by 29 percent from last week...

Mid-November Weather Update: Most climate stations throughout Minnesota are reporting average temperatures for the month so far that range from 6°F to 8°F above normal. This follows the trend of warmer than normal weather established in both September and October. There have been several days that have brought maximum temperatures of 50°F or above, and a day or two of 60°F readings in some places. This week brought more significant rainfall to the state. At mid-month, most Minnesota climate stations are reporting near normal or above normal precipitation so far this month. A number of climate stations in eastern counties have reported over 2 inches. Drought conditions continue, but eased up slightly as those areas of the state in at least Moderate Drought (84 percent) declined by 5 percentage points to 79 percent. The persistent strong winds of November have yet to materialize except for Veterans Days (November 11) when wind gusts exceeded 40 mph across much of central and northe...

Wet Start to November: Rainfall was certainly abundant over the first six days of November with many climate stations reporting measurable amounts on at least four days. Total rainfalls between 1 and 1.5 inches were fairly common across the state. Normal monthly precipitation for November typically ranges from 0.75 inches in the northwest to 1.75 inches in the southeast. There have been a handful of record-setting daily rainfalls, including 1.73 inches at Delano (Wright County) on November 1st, and 1.05 inches at Caledonia (Houston County) on November 3rd. In fact, portions of Houston and Fillmore Counties in southeastern Minnesota have reported over 2 inches of rain so far this month. Their normal precipitation for the entire month is around 1.85 inches, so they have already had a wet month of November. More significant precipitation is expected over much of the state next week as well, and the NOAA Climate Prediction Center outlooks favor a wetter than normal and warmer than nor...

Climate Summary for October: Following the pattern of September, temperatures averaged well above normal in October. Most climate stations reported a mean monthly temperature that was 4°F to 6°F above normal, with the most significant departures from normal in the western and southern counties. Some areas of the state were as much as 8°F warmer than normal, and many central and southern counties reported either their 4th or 5th warmest October in history, with several days when the afternoon high temperature reached 80°F or greater. Statewide it appears October of 2024 will be the 6th warmest in history. Extremes across the state ranged from 88°F at Granite Falls (Yellow Medicine County) on October 10th to just 15°F at Brimson (St Louis County) on the 17th. During the month, over 90 daily record high temperatures were reported from the Minnesota climate station network, and over 45 record daily warm minimum temperatures were reported. October 29 (Tuesday) of this week alone, brought...