Cold July 18, 2000
Pity the folks who rented the lake cottage in Minnesota for summer vacation this week
... cool northeasterly winds, persistent cloudiness, and a cold light rain produced the
coldest July 18th in Minnesota history for many areas of the state. MSP airport in the
Twin Cities recorded a high temperature of only 60 degrees F, breaking the old record for
the coolest July 18th of 64 F set back in 1911. Other areas of the state which recorded
record cold maximum temperatures for July 18th are listed below. There was probably a nice
array of fall fashion designs displayed by Minnesotans today ... Ah well, the mosquitos
hate these temperatures too ...
New record cold maximum temperatures on July 18th:
| Brainerd |
54 F |
Cloquet |
59 F |
| Blaine |
57 F |
Cambridge |
52 F |
| Aitkin |
55 F |
Willmar |
60 F |
| Winona |
60 F |
Grand Marais |
54 F |
| Pine River Dam |
55 F |
Rush City |
57 F |
| Moose Lake |
59 F |
Faribault |
59 F |
| Owatonna |
61 F |
St. Cloud |
57 F |
| Alexandria |
54 F |
Redwood Falls |
58 F |
| Albert Lea |
63 F |
Appleton |
57 F |
| Hutchinson |
57 F |
Glenwood |
55 F |
| Litchfield |
55 F |
Mankato |
57 F |
| Montevideo |
57 F |
Morris (coldest July day) |
54 F |
| New Ulm |
57 F |
Red Wing |
55 F |
| St. James |
63 F |
Mora |
57 F |
| Madison |
57 F |
Little Falls |
55 F |
Dr. Mark Seeley
University of Minnesota Department of Soil, Water, and Climate
A quick scan of the State Climatology Office database shows that July maximum
temperatures less than or equal to 50 degrees F are extremely rare. Some east central
Minnesota communities struggled to climb out of the 40's on July 18. Cambridge for
example, reported a maximum temperature of 52 degrees. Here's a breakdown of all
occurrences of July maximum temperatures <= 50 degrees F (all stations, entire period
of record).
| Location |
Date |
Temp (F) |
| Brimson |
7/2/1992 |
50 |
| Detroit Lakes |
7/4/1997 |
50 |
| Duluth Airport |
7/2/1992 |
49 |
| Grand Marais |
7/2/1935 |
50 |
|
7/1/1938 |
49 |
|
7/2/1938 |
49 |
|
7/3/1938 |
50 |
|
7/6/1938 |
50 |
|
7/2/1950 |
49 |
|
7/3/1991 |
49 |
| Grand Portage |
7/2/1992 |
50 |
| Isabella |
7/2/1992 |
49 |
| Lutsen |
7/2/1992 |
50 |
| Two Harbors |
7/3/1991 |
50 |
|
7/2/1992 |
47 |
July maximum temperatures of less than or equal to 60 degrees are nearly unprecedented
in the Twin Cities. Here are all days in history when July high temperatures in the Twin
Cities were less than or equal to 60 degrees:
July 2, 1892 - 60 degrees F
July 1, 1945 - 60 degrees F
July 4, 1967 - 58 degrees F
July 6, 1972 - 60 degrees F
Additionally, the July 18 minimum temperature was 52 degrees in the Twin Cities. This
ties the record set in 1962 and in 1984.
 Return to the Climate
Journal
mcwg@soils.umn.edu
URL: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/cold000718.htm
Last modified: July 19, 2000 |