Cold Mid-January
Arctic air settled over the Upper Midwest on January 13. Bitterly cold wind chills were
reported on the morning of January 14, especially over northwestern Minnesota.
The coldest wind chills seen so far were at Fosston and Park Rapids at 6am January 13 with -52 degrees at each site.
In the days following some bitterly cold air temperatures were reported.
A few select places went below -50. The coldest place seen for this cold snap
(and the winter thus far) is -54 at Embarrass on January 17.
Listed below are National Weather Service Statements about the recent cold weather.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
145 PM CST THU JAN 13 2005
...COLD WEATHER STATS FOR THE NORTHLAND...
AS THE COLD AIR SETTLES INTO THE NORTHLAND...LET'S LOOK BACK AT SOME
NORTHLAND COLD WEATHER STATISTICS:
THE COLDEST MINNESOTA TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED WAS MINUS 60 WHICH
OCCURRED AT TOWER ON FEBRUARY 2, 1996
THE COLDEST WISCONSIN TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED WAS MINUS 55 WHICH
OCCURRED AT COUDERAY ON FEBRUARY 2ND AND 4TH, 1996.
AT THE DULUTH AIRPORT THE RECORD OF CONSECUTIVE HOURS OF BELOW ZERO
TEMPERATURES IS 186 HOURS FROM JANUARY 12 THROUGH THE 20TH, 1994.
DURING THE COLD SNAP OF 1996 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT DULUTH
RECORDED 164 CONSECUTIVE HOURS OF BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES. THE
TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO -1 AT 400 PM ON JANUARY 29 AND FINALLY ROSE
TO ABOVE ZERO AT NOON ON FEBRUARY 5TH. THE LOW TEMPERATURE ON
FEBRUARY 2 WAS MINUS 39 AND THE HIGH TEMPERATURE THAT DAY WAS
MINUS 21.
IN INTERNATIONAL FALLS THE HIGH TEMPERATURE ON FEBRUARY 2 1996 WAS
MINUS 45 WITH A HIGH OF -22.
TEMPERATURE RECORDS FOR JANUARY 14TH THROUGH THE 17TH:
DULUTH
LOW LOW MAX
14TH -38/1965 -21/1972
15TH -39/1972 -19/1972
16TH -31/1982 -20/1982
17TH -38/1982 -11/1967
INTERNATIONAL FALLS
LOW
14TH -42/1972
15TH -45/1972
16TH -44/1979
17TH -45/1982
WIND CHILL DATA
IN THE PAST TEN YEARS THE GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA HAS CLOSED PUBLIC
SCHOOLS STATEWIDE TWICE BECAUSE OF COLD WEATHER. HERE IS A LOOK AT
DULUTH'S WEATHER FOR THOSE DAYS:
JANUARY 18, 1994
HIGH TEMP: -21
LOW TEMP: -33
WIND CHILLS: -55 TO -65
FEBRUARY 2, 1996
HIGH TEMP: -21
LOW TEMP: -39
WIND CHILLS -50 TO -60
NOTE: WIND CHILLS ARE BASED ON THE CURRENT WIND CHILL FORMULA.
OTHER NOTABLE WIND CHILL DAYS:
JANUARY 21 TO 22, 2004: WIND CHILLS IN THE -40S
JANUARY 15-16, 1997: WIND CHILL IN THE -30S.
JANUARY 15, 1995
FEBRUARY 10-11, 1995: WIND CHILLS IN THE -40S.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED TO ADD LITTLE FALLS COOP
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
100 PM CST FRI JAN 14 2005
...FRIGID OVERNIGHT LOWS ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...
BELOW IS A RANKED LIST OF THE COLDEST OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE TWIN
CITIES/CHANHASSEN COUNTY WARNING AREA. UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED...ALL
REPORTS FROM ASOS/AWOS AUTOMATED SENSORS. MNDOT RWIS SITES ARE HIGHWAY
ROAD WEATHER INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEPLOYED BY MNDOT ALONG ROADWAYS ACROSS
MINNESOTA. CO-OP REPORTS ARE COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS TAKING DAILY OBSERVATIONS
FOR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
LITTLE FALLS -30 (CO-OP)
GLENWOOD -30 (CO-OP)
I-94 (SAUK CENTRE) -28 (MNDOT RWIS)
HWY 25 (MORRISON CO) -27 (MNDOT RWIS)
HWY 55 (STEARNS CO) -27 (MNDOT RWIS)
MADISON -26
I-94 (CLEARWATER) -26
APPLETON -24
MORA -24
MORRIS -24
STAPLES -24
WILD RIVER PARK -24 (CO-OP)
HWY 23 (BENTON CO) -24 (MNDOT RWIS)
ALEXANDRIA -23
LITCHFIELD -23 (CO-OP)
I-94 (ALEXANDRIA) -23 (MNDOT RWIS)
HWY 10 (BENTON CO) -23 (MNDOT RWIS)
HWY 29 (POPE CO) -23 (MNDOT RWIS)
ST.CLOUD -22
LITTLE FALLS -22
BENSON -22
HWY 169 (MILLE LACS) -21 (MNDOT RWIS)
HWY 23 (HANLEY FALLS)-21 (MNDOT RWIS)
GLENWOOD -20
PRINCETON -20
WILLMAR -20
I-35 (RUSH CITY) -20 (MNDOT RWIS)
REDWOOD FALLS -19
LITCHFIELD -18
OLIVIA -18
HWY 7 (CHIPPEWA CO) -18 (MNDOT RWIS)
HWY 19 (REDWOOD CO) -18 (MNDOT RWIS)
CAMBRIDGE -17
MAPLE LAKE -17
MONTEVIDEO -17
OSCEOLA, WI -17
NEW RICHMOND, WI -17
CHANHASSEN (NWS) -17
HWY 7 (CARVER CO) -17 (MNDOT RWIS)
CHASKA -17 (CO-OP)
HWY 19 (SIBLEY CO) -17 (MNDOT RWIS)
WASECA -16 (CO-OP)
STANLEY, WI -16 (CO-OP)
I-35 (STEELE CO.) -16 (MNDOT RWIS)
I-35 (SE SCOTT CO.) -16 (MNDOT RWIS)
MSP-CRYSTAL -15
RICE LAKE, WI -15
NEW ULM -15
MSP-BLAINE -15
HUTCHINSON -15
BLOOMER, WI -15 (CO-OP)
I-494 @ HWY 110 -15 (MNDOT RWIS)
HWY 52 (GOODHUE CO) -15 (MNDOT RWIS)
HWY 61 (GOODHUE CO) -15 (MNDOT RWIS)
HWY 19 (NEW PRAGUE) -15 (MNDOT RWIS)
HWY 60 (WANTON CO) -15 (MNDOT RWIS)
MSP-EDEN PRAIRIE -14
MINNEAPOLIS INTL -14
JIM FALLS, WI -14 (CO-OP)
FARIBAULT -14 (CO-OP)
ST. PAUL -14 (CO-OP)
HWY 169 (LE SUEUR) -14 (MNDOT RWIS)
FAIRMONT -13 (CO-OP)
FARIBAULT -13
MANKATO -13
HWY 169 (MANKATO) -13 (MNDOT RWIS)
ST.JAMES -13
ALBERT LEA -13 (CO-OP)
AUGUSTA, WI -13 (CO-OP)
I-35W (MN RIVER) -13 (MNDOT RWIS)
I-35 (IA/MN BORDER) -13 (MNDOT RWIS)
I-90 (BLUE EARTH) -13 (MNDOT RWIS)
EAU CLAIRE -12 (CO-OP)
ST. PAUL (HOLMAN) -12
BUFFALO -12 (CO-OP)
I-35E (CAYUGA BR.) -12 (MNDOT RWIS)
I-35E @ I-694 -11 (MNDOT RWIS)
SOUTH ST.PAUL -11
FAIRMONT -11
ALBERT LEA -11
LAKEVILLE -11
EAU CLAIRE -10
RED WING -9
OWATONNA -9
$$
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
830 AM CST FRI JAN 14 2005
LOW TEMPERATURES ACROSS NORTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN
THIS MORNING AS OF 825 AM.
NORTHEAST MINNESOTA...
DULUTH............. -22
INTERNATIONAL FALLS -25
KABETOGAMA......... -25
LITTLE FORK........ -25
HIBBING............ -24
CROSS LAKE......... -26
BRAINERD........... -31
ISLE 12N........... -24
EMBARRASS.......... -28
TOWER.............. -25
COOK............... -24
HINCKLEY........... -28
BABBITT............ -28
MARCELL............ -29
MOOSE LAKE......... -21
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN...
ASHLAND............. -18
HAYWARD............. -18
SOLON SPRINGS....... -26
BUTTERNUT........... -19
DRUMMOND............ -20
MADELINE ISLAND..... -10
UPSON............... -18
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
140 PM CST MON JAN 17 2005
...ANOTHER MORNING OF BITTER COLD AIR IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN...
...SUMMARY OF OVERNIGHT LOWS FOR THE MID JANUARY ARCTIC OUTBREAK...
OVERNIGHT LOWS TUMBLED ONCE AGAIN ACROSS SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA...
AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. SOME SITES REGISTERED THEIR COLDEST NIGHT OF
THE YEAR SO FAR. CLEAR SKIES...CALM WINDS...STRONG HIGH PRESSURE...AND IN
SOME INSTANCES...SOME SNOW COVER...AIDED THE BIG TEMPERATURE DROP. BELOW IS
A RANKED LIST OF THE COLDEST OVERNIGHT LOWS FOR MONDAY
MORNING...IN THE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN COUNTY WARNING AREA. UNLESS
OTHERWISE NOTED...ALL REPORTS FROM ASOS/AWOS AUTOMATED SENSORS.
MNDOT RWIS SITES ARE HIGHWAY ROAD WEATHER INFORMATION SYSTEMS
DEPLOYED BY MNDOT ALONG ROADWAYS ACROSS MINNESOTA. ALSO...A SUMMARY OF EACH
SITES' LOWS IS GIVEN. SOME OTHER NOTABLE MONDAY MORNING LOW TEMPERATURES
ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST ADDED AT THE END.
SITE MONDAY SUNDAY SATURDAY FRIDAY SENSOR TYPE
-----------------------------------------------------------------
STAPLES -33 -28 -17 -24 AWOS
MORA -33 -33 -18 -24 AWOS
LITTLE FALLS -31 MM MM -30 COOP
HWY 10 (BENTON CO) -29 -29 -19 -23 RWIS
HWY 169 (MILLE LACS) -28 -29 -26 -21 RWIS
HWY 23 (BENTON CO) -28 -28 -19 -24 RWIS
ST. CLOUD -28 -27 -21 -22 ASOS
HWY 25 (MORRISON CO) -28 -25 -19 -27 RWIS
PRINCETON -28 -25 -15 -20 AWOS
LITTLE FALLS -28 -24 -9 -22 AWOS
MORRIS -26 -19 -18 -24 AWOS
BENSON -26 -19 -17 -22 AWOS
HWY 55 (STEARNS CO) -25 -18 -20 -27 RWIS
ALEXANDRIA -25 -18 MM -23 ASOS
GLENWOOD -24 -19 -17 -20 AWOS
I-94 (CLEARWATER) -24 -22 -18 -26 RWIS
APPLETON -24 -21 -17 -24 AWOS
MADISON -24 -21 -22 -26 AWOS
I-35 (RUSH CITY) -23 -20 -15 -20 RWIS
GLENWOOD -22 -21 -21 -30 COOP
OSCEOLA, WI -22 -20 -11 -17 AWOS
NEW RICHMOND, WI -22 -17 -13 -17 AWOS
I-94 (ALEXANDRIA) -22 -17 -15 -23 RWIS
I-35 (RICE CO.) -22 -10 MM MM RWIS
RICE LAKE, WI -21 -21 -11 -15 AWOS
CAMBRIDGE -21 -18 -11 -17 AWOS
WILLMAR -20 -17 -17 -20 AWOS
HWY 29 (POPE CO) -20 -14 -18 -23 RWIS
HWY 23 (HANLEY FALLS)-20 -12 -15 -21 RWIS
MAPLE LAKE -19 -14 -13 -17 AWOS
HWY 7 (CHIPPEWA CO) -19 -15 -18 -18 RWIS
LITCHFIELD -19 -14 -15 -23 AWOS
I-35 (IA/MN BORDER) -18 -10 -17 -13 RWIS
OLIVIA -17 -13 -15 -18 AWOS
HWY 19 (REDWOOD CO) -17 -18 -14 -18 RWIS
MONTEVIDEO -17 -10 -11 -17 AWOS
I-35 (STEELE CO.) -17 -9 -14 -16 RWIS
MSP-BLAINE -17 -8 -9 -15 AWOS
REDWOOD FALLS -17 -10 -12 -19 ASOS
HWY 169 (SCOTT CO) -16 -9 -12 MM RWIS
HWY 7 (CARVER CO) -16 -13 -12 -17 RWIS
HUTCHINSON -15 -11 -9 -15 AWOS
RED WING -15 -13 -8 -9 AWOS
NEW ULM -15 -12 -11 -15 AWOS
I-90 (BLUE EARTH) -15 -10 -16 -13 RWIS
HWY 60 (WANTON CO) -15 -7 -11 -15 RWIS
HWY 169 (MANKATO) -14 -9 -12 -13 RWIS
HWY 19 (SIBLEY CO) -14 -11 -12 -17 RWIS
WACONIA -14 -12 -13 -17 NWS EMP
CHANHASSEN (NWS) -14 -11 -13 -17 MMTS
HWY 169 (LE SUEUR) -14 -10 -12 -14 RWIS
MSP-CRYSTAL -14 -9 -11 -15 ASOS
FARIBAULT -14 -9 -9 -13 AWOS
HWY 19 (NEW PRAGUE) -14 -8 -11 -15 RWIS
ALBERT LEA -13 -5 -9 -11 AWOS
HWY 61 (GOODHUE CO) -13 -8 -11 -15 RWIS
I-35W (MN RIVER) -13 -12 -10 -13 RWIS
I-494 @ HWY 110 -13 -12 -13 -15 RWIS
ST.JAMES -13 -10 -13 -13 AWOS
LAKEVILLE -13 -10 -8 -11 AWOS
ST. PAUL (HOLMAN) -13 -9 -8 -12 ASOS
EAU CLAIRE -13 -10 -8 -12 ASOS
MSP-EDEN PRAIRIE -12 -10 -13 -14 ASOS
I-35E (CAYUGA BR.) -12 -10 -9 -12 RWIS
HWY 52 (GOODHUE CO) -12 -10 -11 -15 RWIS
MINNEAPOLIS INTL -12 -8 -11 -14 ASOS
SOUTH ST.PAUL -12 -8 -8 -11 AWOS
FAIRMONT -11 -8 -13 -11 AWOS
MANKATO -11 -6 -11 -13 AWOS
OWATONNA -11 -6 -9 -9 AWOS
-------------------------------------------------------------
SOME OTHER NOTABLE OVERNIGHT LOWS ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST
EMBARRASS MINNESOTA -54
BABBITT MINNESOTA -51
LITTLEFORK MINNESOTA -49
BRIMSON MINNESOTA -48
TOWER MINNESOTA -47
FLOODWOOD MINNESOTA -47
BIG FORK MINNESOTA -46
MARCELL MINNESOTA -46
ELY MINNESOTA -45
INTL FALLS MINNESOTA -44
SILVER BAY MINNESOTA -44
CRANE LAKE MINNESOTA -44
HIBBING MINNESOTA -43
LONGVILLE MINNESOTA -42
BAUDETTE MINNESOTA -41
PARK RAPIDS MINNESOTA -40
COOK MINNESOTA -38
ROSEAU MINNESOTA -38
WARROAD MINNESOTA -38
BRAINERD MINNESOTA -38
GRAND FORKS NORTH DAKOTA -37
WADENA MINNESOTA -36
SOLON SPRINGS WISCONSIN -35
SUPERIOR WISCONSIN -33
UPSON WISCONSIN -33
TOMAHAWK WISCONSIN -29
FARGO NORTH DAKOTA -28
DULUTH MINNESOTA -28
SAND LAKE SOUTH DAKOTA -26
JAMESTOWN NORTH DAKOTA -23
WATERLOO IOWA -20
ABERDEEN SOUTH DAKOTA -19
WATERTOWN SOUTH DAKOTA -19
SPENCER IOWA -19
MASON CITY IOWA -19
BROOKINGS SOUTH DAKOTA -18
GAYS MILLS WISCONSIN -18
SPARTA WISCONSIN -18
HURON SOUTH DAKOTA -18
BISMARCK NORTH DAKOTA -17
RHINELANDER WISCONSIN -17
SIOUX FALLS SOUTH DAKOTA -16
MEDFORD WISCONSIN -15
DODGE CENTER MINNESOTA -15
ROCHESTER MINNESOTA -13
CALEDONIA MINNESOTA -12
LA CROSSE NWS WISCONSIN -9
WINONA MINNESOTA -8
DES MOINES IOWA -8
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
955 PM CST TUE JAN 18 2005
...LATEST COLD SNAP TOTALED OVER 100 CONSECUTIVE HOURS BELOW ZERO AT
DULUTH AND INTERNATIONAL FALLS...
THE CONSECUTIVE STRING OF HOURS BELOW ZERO IN DULUTH ENDED THIS
MORNING AT 119 HOURS AND IN INTERNATIONAL FALLS AT 121 HOURS.
DULUTH'S STRING STARTED AT 9AM ON THE 13TH OF JANUARY AND ENDED
AT 8AM THIS MORNING. INTERNATIONAL FALLS STREAK STARTED AT 4AM ON
THE 13TH AND ENDED AT 5AM THIS MORNING.
Return to Minnesota Climatology Working Group Main Page
URL: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/cold0501.htm
Last modified: January 25, 2005
|