Some notes on MN climate extremes in 2025

Some notes on MN climate extremes in 2025:

It is the time of year to look back 12 months and be reminded of what our Minnesota climate produced for us to cope with. A few notes:

Highest maximum temperature: 101°F at Marshall (Lyon County) on June 22nd, Granite Falls and Benson also reported 100°F that day.

Lowest minimum temperature: -42°F at Kabetogama (St Louis County) and at Seagull Lake (Cook County) on January 10th.

Wettest single day: 6.86 inches of rain at Raymond (Chippewa County) on June 13th; both Grand Meadow and Waseca reported over 6 inches of rain on August 17th.

Highest total precipitation for the year: 44 inches at Waseca; Austin reported 43.02 inches.

Lowest total precipitation for the year: 17.38 inches at Park Rapids (Hubbard County). Normal annual precipitation there is about 23.85 inches. Many other north-central and northeastern areas of the state reported well below normal precipitation for the year.

Wettest month in 2025: 5.16 inches statewide average rainfall during July

Extremely windy spring (March-May) with 40-50 days bringing wind gusts of 30 mph or greater.

The year started with nearly 50 percent of the Minnesota landscape in at least Moderate Drought and ended with about 30 percent of the state landscape in drought. But with a wet spring and early wet summer, the state was drought-free for much of the growing season.

The derecho (straight-line windstorm) of June 20-21 caused extensive damage in the Bemidji area. Wind gusts up to 106 mph were measured.

The summer of 2025 was likely one of the smokiest in Minnesota history, mostly due to wildfires in the west and in Canada. Minnesota reported 15 days with at least one air quality monitoring stations producing an Air Quality Index (AQI) of at least 151, category Red, which is unhealthy for everyone.

More next week on other climate characteristics and anomalies for 2025.

Weekly Weather Potpourri:

The Weather Underground web site reported that some areas of California received 10 to 20 inches of rainfall this week, swelling rivers and causing flooding in many areas. The weather was supposed to dry off for this weekend and bring some of the flood threat to an end.

MPR listener question:

Just curious about which areas of the state have reported the most snowfall this month? We are planning a trip to northern Minnesota.

Answer:

As of December 25th, areas in the northeast near Grand Marais have reported 16 to 19 inches of snow this month. Areas between International Falls and Warroad have reported 14 to 16 inches.

Twin Cities Almanac for December 26th:

The average MSP high temperature for this date is 26 degrees F (plus or minus 12 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is12 degrees F (plus or minus 14 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for December 26th:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 52 degrees F in 2011; lowest daily maximum temperature of-9 degrees F in 1934; lowest daily minimum temperature of -27 degrees F in 1996; highest daily minimum temperature of 38 degrees F in 1959; and record precipitation of 0.60 inches in 1880. Record snowfall for this date is 5.1 inches in 1988

Average dew point for December 26th is 10°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 48°F in 1936 and the minimum dew point on this date is -28 degrees F in 1996

All-time state records for December 26th:

The state record high temperature for this date is 57 degrees F at Fairmont (Martin County) and at Zumbrota (Goodhue County) in 1936. The state record low temperature for this date is -50 degrees F at Big Falls (Koochiching County) in 1933. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 2.10 inches at Pine River Dam (Crow Wing County) in 2023. A record 15.0 inches of snow fell at Bricelyn (Faribault County) in 1945.

Past Weather:

Arctic cold gripped the state on the morning of December 26 in 1933. All observers reported subzero temperatures, mostly between -20°F and -35°F. Some northern communities where there was 20 to 30 inches of snow on the ground reported -40°F to -50°F. The afternoon high temperature at Roseau only climbed to -18°F.

Very mild conditions prevailed across the state on December 26 of 1936. With little or no snow on the ground, many areas of southern Minnesota reported daytime high temperatures in the 40s and 50s F. Five counties reported afternoon temperatures from 55°F to 57°F under sunny skies.

Outlook:

It will be a mild start to the weekend, with well above normal temperatures. In fact the state record high for December 27th (54°F at Canby in 1994 may be challenged). Then blustery and increasing cloudiness on Sunday with a chance for snow. Much colder on Monday, with below normal temperatures and subzero Wind Chills. The balance of next week looks mostly colder than normal as well.