Twin Cities Christmas Day Windchills

Windchills on Christmas Day in the Twin Cities:

It is not uncommon to have the National Weather Service issue 
windchill warnings on Christmas Day.  Locally warnings are now 
issued whenever the expected windchill values are -40 degrees F
or colder.

There have been 15 years this century when the windchill values
were -40 degrees F or colder, including the most extreme case of
-60 degrees F on Christmas Day of 1934.  In fact, the harsh image
of the weather from the Dustbowl years is enhanced in Minnesota 
by the fact the three consective Christmas Days (1933, 1934, and 
1935) saw windchill values of -40 F or colder.  A complete list
of the "coldest feeling" Christmas days this century in the Twin
Cities can be found below.....

Year       Christmas Day Windchill Value (F)
1903                -44
1914                -44
1917                -53
1924                -55
1925                -42
1933                -45
1934                -60
1935                -49
1944                -40
1962                -46
1977                -55
1983                -52
1985                -48
1990                -40
1993                -42

Mark Seeley
Professor and Extension Climatologist
Department of Soil, Water, and Climate
University of Minnesota
St Paul, MN  55108
-  

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mcwg@soils.umn.edu
URL: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/xmaswc99.htm
Last modified: December 20, 1999