Presidental Election Day Weather
The weather on Presidential Election Day in the Twin Cities is typified by an average high in the upper 40's to low 50's with a minimum temperatures somewhere in the low to mid 30's. The warmest presidential election day since 1892 was in 2008 when the mercury climbed to 71 degrees on a warm, breezy afternoon. The coldest Presidential Election Day high temperature in the Twin Cities was 1936 with a high of 28 degrees and a bit of light snow. The weather on that election day statewide was on the heels of a winter storm that struck western, central and northern parts of the state. St. Cloud had 7.5 inches of snow on November 2, with light snow continuing on election day. It didn't seem to effect voter turnout with 70% of the eligible voters heading to the polls.
In recent years, voters for the presidential contest of 1992 had to put up with the aftermath of a early season snowfall that brought back memories of the Halloween Blizzard, although on a much smaller scale. The heaviest snowfall was in northern Minnesota with Duluth seeing 8.6 inches on November 2nd and 5.3 inches on the 3rd (Election Day). International Falls had 8.1 inches on the 2nd and 2.4 inches on the 3rd. In central Minnesota, St. Cloud had 6.2 inches on the 2nd and 1.2 inches on the 3rd. In the south, Rochester had 2.1 inches on the 2nd and only .1 (one tenth of an inch on the 3rd) 73% of eligible voters turned out on that wintry November Day.
In 2000 there was a much lighter snowfall than in 1992 with Duluth seeing 1.5 inches of snow on November 7th (Election Day), and International Falls seeing .4 (four tenths of an inch) snow. Rochester only saw a trace. The Twin Cities saw 1.2 inches of snow which began in the morning and continued into the evening for those last minute voters.
Oddly enough the lowest turnout for an election day in Minnesota since 1950 was in 1996 with Bill Clinton defeating Bob Dole. The turnout was only 67% with the weather being right around average.
Twin Cities Presidential Election Day Weather
year month day max min pre snowfall snow
temp temp (in) (in) depth (in)
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1892 11 8 31 9 T T M
1896 11 3 40 30 0.00 0 M
1900 11 6 44 33 T 0.2 0
1904 11 8 48 28 0.00 0 0
1908 11 3 49 35 0.00 0 0
1912 11 5 54 34 T 0 0
1916 11 7 49 40 0.36 0 0
1920 11 2 38 31 0.05 T 0
1924 11 4 50 32 0.00 0 0
1928 11 6 55 39 T 0 0
1932 11 8 51 37 1.51 0 0
1936 11 3 28 16 T 0.2 T
1940 11 5 41 30 0.07 0 0
1944 11 7 59 45 0.13 0 0
1948 11 2 68 44 0.00 0 0
1952 11 4 60 35 0.00 0 0
1956 11 6 49 38 0.04 0 0
1960 11 8 45 23 0.02 T 0
1964 11 3 60 51 0.06 0 0
1968 11 5 44 35 0.10 T 0
1972 11 7 41 31 0.02 0.2 0
1976 11 2 57 43 0.00 0 0
1980 11 4 51 38 0.00 0 0
1984 11 6 53 22 0.00 0 0
1988 11 8 52 32 T 0 0
1992 11 3 34 32 0.22 1.2 6
1996 11 5 45 41 0.00 0 0
2000 11 7 50 30 0.14 1.2 0
2004 11 2 49 34 0.06 0 0
2008 11 4 71 51 0.00 0 0
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average 49 34
highest 71 51 1.51 1.2 6
lowest 28 9 0 0 0
(temperatures in degrees F)