November 2025 climate summary:
Despite the cold and snowy end to the month of November, average monthly temperatures across Minnesota were 3°F to 5°F above normal. On a statewide basis November of 2025 was the 10th warmest on record since 1895. Within the state climate network, there were 86 reports of record high daily maximum temperatures during the month. Over November 14th and 15th dozens of communities reported highs in the 70s F. There were also 18 reports of record daily warm minimum temperatures during the month, including 46°F at Lamberton (Redwood County) on the 14th.Precipitation for November was below normal in most all areas of the state. The statewide average precipitation was less than 1 inch. The northeastern and southeastern counties received the most precipitation, with some climate stations in those areas reporting over 1.50 inches. Northwestern Minnesota was the driest area during the month, with many climate stations reported less than half an inch of precipitation.
In terms of snowfall, many climate stations reported 4 to 7 inches for the month. Some northeastern and southeastern areas reported between 12 and 17 inches, with Duluth reporting 17.6 inches. There were 33 reports of record-setting daily snowfall amounts, mostly during the last few days of the month. Brainerd reported a record 7.7 inches of snow on the 26th, while Rochester reported a record 7.6 inches on the 29th.
As the month of November ended about 26 percent of the state landscape was in Moderate Drought, and 4 percent was in Severe Drought, with these areas concentrated in north-central and northeaster counties.
November lived up to its reputation for windiness, as many climate stations reported wind gusts of 30 mph or greater on a third of the days, and some even half of the days. Rochester reported 16 such days, with some gusts over 50 mph.
Final comment about the autumn season of 2025 (Sep-Nov): Autumn of 2025 on a statewide basis was the 2nd warmest in state history, averaging close to 6°F above normal for the 3 months. It was also an unusually sunny autumn season.
December starts cold and will remain so:
In contrast to the overall warm autumn season (Sep-Nov) in Minnesota, December has begun quite cold. Most climate stations report average daily temperatures through the first 4 days of the month that are 10°F to 16°F cooler than normal. On Thursday morning this week (December 4th) many Minnesota climate stations reported their coldest minimum temperatures since last winter. Over 60 climate stations reported subzero low temperatures. In the north, a few areas reported -20°F or colder. No record low were reported but Tower and Floodwood both reported -20°F, Embarrass reported -22°F, and Brimson reported -27°F on December 4th this week. All of these areas currently report 7 to 9 inches of snow on the ground which undoubtedly contributed to the overnight cold. In fact, the Minnesota State Climatology Office snow depth map for the state, released on December 4th this week, shows that the majority of the state landscape has from 2 to 8 inches of snow depth currently, with much of the snow carrying over from late November.Speaking of snow, forecasts suggest that more snow is likely across many parts of the state from this Friday through next Thursday. As the snow cover is amplified, colder than normal temperatures are expected to dominate for balance of the month, giving us only the 3rd colder than normal month of December in the last 14 years!
Weekly Weather Potpourri:
This week’s AGU-EOS Bulletin contains a very interesting article about water vapor and soot reaching the Earth’s stratosphere in more abundance because of overshooting vertical dimensions of strong convective thunderstorms and tropical storms. Especially disturbing to scientists who conducted this study is the quantity of particles released by wildfires that make it into the stratosphere. This appears to be increasing.The BBC Weather Center reports on recovery efforts in Sri Lanka this week after Tropical Cyclone Ditwah devastated the country with 12 to 14 inches of widespread rainfall last week. The rains caused widespread flooding and landslides, killing over 450 people and leaving tens of thousands of people homeless. Power outages and road blockages were common.
As reported by the Weather Underground web site this week, recent research from the University of Illinois Chicago indicates that the Sahara Desert, long defined by relentless heat and extreme dryness, could see increase in rainfall by as much as 75% by the end of the century. Sahara dust plumes which blow off the continent with the easterly winds and transit the Atlantic Ocean often suppress tropical storm formation. But wetter climate suggests that perhaps less sand will get airborne and this mechanism of suppressing tropical storm formation may be diminished. Such dynamics may change the frequency of tropical storm development in the Atlantic Basin.
MPR listener question:
Looks like we are headed for a cold December. It made us wonder when were the coldest Decembers in the Twin Cities climate record?Answer:
We are averaging around 12°F for daily temperature in the Twin Cities so far this month (only 4 days). There have been historically 10 years when the average daily temperature for December was 10°F or less. They are:3.7°F in 1983
6.0°F in 1872
7.3°F in 1886
7.6°F in 2000
7.7°F in 1985
8.3°F in 1876
8.8°F in 1927
9.2°F in 1924
9.9°F in 1917
10.0°F in 1963
I vividly remember December of 1983 because we had overnight low temperatures ranging from -15°F to -29°F with daily Wind Chills ranging from -35°F to -57°F the week leading up to Christmas Eve (Dec 18-24). This made for very challenging travel and shopping prior to Christmas Day. Statewide it was one of the coldest periods in history
Twin Cities Almanac for December 5th:
The average MSP high temperature for this date is 33 degrees F (plus or minus 10 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is19 degrees F (plus or minus 10 degrees F standard deviation).MSP Local Records for December 5th:
MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 63 degrees F in 2001; lowest daily maximum temperature of 2 degrees F in 1873; lowest daily minimum temperature of -14 degrees F in 1873; highest daily minimum temperature of 40 degrees F in 1875; and record precipitation of 0.81 inches in 1909. Record snowfall for this date is 7.0 inches in 1909.
Average dew point for December 5th is 17°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 57°F in 2001 and the minimum dew point on this date is -19 degrees F in 1977.
All-time state records for December 5th:
The state record high temperature for this date is 65 degrees F at Winona (Winona County) in 1998 and again in 2001. The state record low temperature for this date is -38 degrees F at Fort Ripley (Crow Wing County) in 1873 and also at International Falls in 1908. The state record for precipitation on this date is 2.23 inches at Milaca (Mille Lacs County) in 1985. A record 14.0 inches of snow fell near Two Harbors (Lake County) in 2013.Past Weather:
A slow-moving winter storm brought heavy snowfall to Minnesota over December 4-6 of 1909. Many areas reported 8 to 12 inches of snowfall. Collegeville (Stearns County) and Redby (Beltrami County) reported over 14 inches of snowfall. It was the largest snowfall of the month for most of Minnesota.With snow depths between 4 inches and 10 inches, extreme cold prevailed across the state of Minnesota on the morning of December 5th of 1964. There were subzero temperatures in all but some of the southeastern counties. In the north, many communities reported a temperature of only -30°F or colder. The afternoon high temperature at Hallock (Kittson County) only reached 1°F.
Perhaps the warmest December 5th in state history was in 2001 when over 55 climate stations in the statewide network reported new record daily high temperatures, many of them in the 50s and 60s F.
Outlook:
Cold over the weekend with many areas recording subzero low temperatures. It will be mostly sunny in northern sections of the state, but there will be a chance for snow in southern areas of the state on Saturday. Temperatures will moderate somewhat Monday through Thursday of next week, but still cooler than normal. Chances for snow off and on each day next week.
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