Statewide subzero temperatures arrive

Statewide subzero temperatures arrive:

After only scattered reports of subzero readings across northern Minnesota over the last two days of November, subzero readings were reported on a statewide basis this week on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (Dec 11-13). In fact, Minnesota reported the coldest temperature in the nation on December 11 with -17°F at Roseau, and on December 12 with -26°F at Warroad.

Several northern communities saw morning lows of -20°F or colder this week. Some climate stations even reported subzero daily maximum temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday. For example at Red Lake Falls and Park Rapids, the daily high temperatures were -9°F and -6°F, respectively on December 12th.

The National Weather Service issued Cold Weather Advisories for much of the state on December 11-12, as Wind Chill Values were expected to be -25°F or colder in the southern portions of the state and -30°F or colder in northern areas. Places like Duluth, Grand Rapids, Roseau, Warroad, Hibbing, Baudette, and Thief River Falls reported Wind Chill Values of -40°F or colder, dangerous by any standards.

The cold spell brought soil frost depths down to 8 inches or deeper in areas with little snow cover. But moderating temperatures are expected to prevail beginning this weekend, bringing some daily high temperatures above the freezing mark.

Weekly Weather Potpourri:

The NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office in Duluth, MN is offering a new experimental and probabilistic snow forecast for their area of the state and would like some user feedback. It provides a probability table for site specific snow forecasts (low end, expected amount, and high end), as well as maps to show the pattern of expected distribution. Please check it out on their web site.

The BBC reported this week on the Malibu wildfire in California. By Wednesday it had prompted evacuations in many areas and some famous celebrities had to leave their homes, including Cher and Dick Van Dyke. On Thursday afternoon firefighters were gaining some containment of this fire, and the weather was expected to turn more favorable for controlling it.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center was tracking Cyclone Chido off the north coast of Madagascar in the Southern Indian Ocean this week. At one time it had central pressure of about 28.02 inches on the barometer, produced wind gusts over 145 mph and had significant wave heights of 49 feet. It was expected to just glance the north coast of Madagascar on Friday, and then head for the coast of Mozambique over the weekend.

MPR listener question:

With the subzero temperatures coming as a shock this week, we wondered what is the average number of subzero low temperatures during December here in the Twin Cities and how does it compare to say the Nation’s Ice Box at International Falls?

Answer:

Since 1872 the Twin Cities climate records show an average of 6 December days with morning low temperatures that are subzero. Extremes have been 19 day in 1886 and zero days in a number of other years, including last year. As compared to International Falls, the average number of subzero daily low temperatures there in December is 10 days, with a maximum of 26 days in 1976. Last year was the only year in history when International Falls did not report a single subzero temperature during December.!

Twin Cities Almanac for December 13th:

The average MSP high temperature for this date is 29 degrees F (plus or minus 12 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is 16 degrees F (plus or minus 13 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for December 13th:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 53 degrees F in 1891; lowest daily maximum temperature of -5 degrees F in 1917; lowest daily minimum temperature of -21 degrees F in 1917; highest daily minimum temperature of 38 degrees F in 2015, and record precipitation of 0.48 inches in 1975. Record snowfall is 6.3 inches in 1983.

Average dew point for December 13th is 12°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 44°F in 2014 and the minimum dew point on this date is -26 degrees F in 1961.

All-time state records for December 13th:

The state record high temperature for this date is 62 degrees F at Lynd (Lyon County) in 1921. The state record low temperature for this date is -42 degrees F at Ada (Norman County) in 1901. The state record precipitation for this date is 1.92 inches at Hinckley (Pine County) in 1968. The statewide snowfall record for this date is 13.2 inches at Gaylord (Sibley County) in 2010.

Past Weather:

On December 13 of 1921 there was little snow on the ground in southern and western Minnesota. Under sunny skies and with south winds, the afternoon temperatures rose into the 50s and 60s F in many places. Workers at some railroad stations took their lunch break outside to enjoy the weather. Over a dozen Minnesota climate stations set record daily high temperatures that day.

With widespread deep snow cover across the Minnesota landscape, a high-pressure system from Canada brought record low temperatures to many counties on December 13 of 1940. Many areas saw morning lows in the minus 20s F and ten northern climate stations reported temperatures of -30°F or colder. The daytime high temperature at Detroit Lakes only made it to -11°F.

A fast-moving winter storm brought 8 to 14 inches of snow to central and northern Minnesota communities on December 13 of 1968. The snowstorm ruined the Christmas shopping weekend for many citizens as travel was difficult.

Outlook:

Generally warmer this weekend with considerable sun in the north, but a mixture of rain, snow, and freezing rain or drizzle in the south on Saturday where a Winter Advisory is in play. Sunday will generally be a dry day with above normal temperatures. Chance of rain and snow again on Monday, then cooler temperatures for the rest of next week, with another chance for snow on Thursday.