Record cold in wake of record snow; more moisture on the way
In the wake of Thursday's record snowfall, the recipe was initiated for record cold. Light winds, clearing skies and a fresh deep snow cover allowed the mercury to tumble to record lows this morning.
Record minimums for April 20th
21 F- record at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport
Old record 26 in 1888
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16 F- record at S. Cloud
Old record 20 in 1897
8 F - Ties record at Duluth set in 1926
4 F- International Falls
Old record 18 in 1966*
*Source:NWS Duluth
Sub zero readings were common in northeast Minnesota.
...MORNING LOW TEMPERATURES FOR SATURDAY APRIL 20TH...
...LOCATION... ...TIME... ...MIN...
EMBARASS (ST. LOUIS MN) (COOP) 600 AM APR 20 -14 F
BABBIT (ST. LOUIS MN) (COOP) 700 AM APR 20 -11 F
ROBINSON (ST. LOUIS MN) (MNDOT) 553 AM APR 20 -9 F
5 E SEA GULL LAKE (COOK MN) (RAWS) 604 AM APR 20 -9 F
CRANE LAKE (ST. LOUIS MN) (AWOS) 552 AM APR 20 -9 F
ELY (ST. LOUIS MN) (1457 FT)(AWOS) 612 AM APR 20 -8 F
3 NNW COTTON (ST. LOUIS MN) (MNDOT) 629 AM APR 20 -7 F
5 S ELY (ST. LOUIS MN) (1455 FT)(RAWS) 604 AM APR 20 -7 F
SOUTH FORK KAWISHIWI RIVER (LAKE MN) 630 AM APR 20 -7 F
6 NW ASH LAKE (ST. LOUIS MN) (MNDOT) 614 AM APR 20 -6 F
COOK (ST. LOUIS MN) (1406 FT)(AWOS) 636 AM APR 20 -6 F
3 E ORR (ST. LOUIS MN) (COOP) 553 AM APR 20 -5 F
3 WNW TWIG (ST. LOUIS MN) (MNDOT) 552 AM APR 20 -4 F
SILVER BAY (LAKE MN) (AWOS) 614 AM APR 20 -4 F
4 SW ORR (ST. LOUIS MN) (1325 FT)(RAWS) 608 AM APR 20 -3 F
4 SSE MAKINEN (ST. LOUIS MN) 648 AM APR 20 -3 F
11 SSE BRULE (BAYFIELD WI) (RAWS) 506 AM APR 20 -2 F
3 SSW CABLE (BAYFIELD WI) (WIDOT) 619 AM APR 20 -2 F
More overnight minimums can be found here.
The early afternoon visible satellite image displayed the fresh snow cover quite nicely, although the forest in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin masks the snow.
Image:NOAA
Impressive snow depths this morning were depicted by this graphic from the Midwest Regional Climate Center. Note how the snowfall has rimmed the Red River.
The snow depth at Fargo this morning was 8 inches, with 2 inches on the ground in Grand Forks, ND. Compare that to the 27 inches on the flat in Duluth, and 32 inches at Babbit.
More moisture is on the way for later in the weekend and into Monday. Once again it appears that the heaviest liquid precipitation will skirt the Red River Valley.
Most of the precipitation is likely to fall as a chilly rain and a wet snow combination. I'll monitor the potential for the rain turning to all snow.
Three day precipitation potential ending at 7 a.m. CDT Tuesday.
You'll recall that LaCrosse, Wis., has already set two daily record rainfalls this month. The total precipitation (liquid content) for April at LaCrosse is already over 5 inches (5.16).
Looking for something that perhaps gives you a warm rush? How about this forecast from the National Weather Service for high temperatures next Friday.
Craig Edwards