It's been a year since our record cold of late January 2019

It's been a year since our record cold of late January 2019

One year ago this week, Minnesota as well as much of the Upper Midwest, were dealing with cold that hadn’t been seen in at least a couple of decades. A massive and extreme pocket of cold air was shoved southward straight out of the North Pole and ended up in Minnesota just 36 hours later. It was this quick movement and heavy snow cover across the Northern Hemisphere that didn’t allow this air to warm as it headed southward, like many arctic outbreaks have before. This lead to the coldest day in the Twin Cities in a good 25 years.

One year ago this week, Minnesota as well as much of the Upper Midwest, were dealing with cold that hadn’t been seen in at least a couple of decades. A massive and extreme pocket of cold air was shoved southward straight out of the North Pole and ended up in Minnesota just 36 hours later. It was this quick movement and heavy snow cover across the Northern Hemisphere that didn’t allow this air to warm as it headed southward, like many arctic outbreaks have before. This lead to the coldest day in the Twin Cities in a good 25 years.

This has been the gloomiest January in more than 50 years in the Twin Cities

This has been the gloomiest January in more than 50 years in the Twin Cities

This month has been the area's gloomiest January in more than 50 years, and it will go down as the cloudiest first month of the year since solar radiation records began at the University of Minnesota St. Paul Climate Observatory back in 1963.

This month has been the area's gloomiest January in more than 50 years, and it will go down as the cloudiest first month of the year since solar radiation records began at the University of Minnesota St. Paul Climate Observatory back in 1963.

Wednesday's forecast: More of the same
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Wednesday's forecast: More of the same

Temps in the 20s. Cloudy. Ok, the sun is out there, we just have to wait a little longer to see it.

Temps in the 20s. Cloudy. Ok, the sun is out there, we just have to wait a little longer to see it.

Airplanes, power plants creating flurries in Minnesota

Airplanes, power plants creating flurries in Minnesota

Have you seen a few flakes over the last couple of days? Well, those flakes may actually have been caused by man instead of nature.

Have you seen a few flakes over the last couple of days? Well, those flakes may actually have been caused by man instead of nature.

Minnesota is having an average to extreme winter... so far

Minnesota is having an average to extreme winter... so far

The next couple of weeks will likely change many of our attitudes about our winter so far with plenty of mild temperatures likely to round out our January… what’s typically our coldest month of the year. But overall, according to the Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI), it’s been a harsh winter for some so far. 

The next couple of weeks will likely change many of our attitudes about our winter so far with plenty of mild temperatures likely to round out our January… what’s typically our coldest month of the year. But overall, according to the Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI), it’s been a harsh winter for some so far. 

Northernmost US city in Alaska to see sunrise for first time in months

Northernmost US city in Alaska to see sunrise for first time in months

Utqiagvik, formerly known as Barrow, is located north of the Arctic Circle and experiences a phenomenon called the “polar night.”

Utqiagvik, formerly known as Barrow, is located north of the Arctic Circle and experiences a phenomenon called the “polar night.”

Cold-stunned iguanas are actually falling from South Florida trees

Cold-stunned iguanas are actually falling from South Florida trees

The National Weather Service routinely warns people about falling rain, snow and hail, but temperatures are dropping so low in South Florida the forecasters warned residents about falling iguanas.

The National Weather Service routinely warns people about falling rain, snow and hail, but temperatures are dropping so low in South Florida the forecasters warned residents about falling iguanas.

Forecast: Falling iguanas in South Florida

Forecast: Falling iguanas in South Florida

The National Weather Service usually sticks to atmospheric weather events, but the agency made a special exception and expanded forecasting criteria to include things falling from above.

The National Weather Service usually sticks to atmospheric weather events, but the agency made a special exception and expanded forecasting criteria to include things falling from above.

Our warm January shows no signs of cooling

Our warm January shows no signs of cooling

The month of January in Minnesota usually consists of mounds of snow, bitter cold, and putting on more clothes than you even knew you had just to keep from shivering. It can be brutal. But this year hasn’t been all that cold.  I realize that warmth, or lack thereof, is in the eye of the beholder. I’m not saying that it hasn’t been cold because who would call 10° warm? But what I am saying, is that by Minnesota standards, our January has been pretty mild… and that is likely to continue.

The month of January in Minnesota usually consists of mounds of snow, bitter cold, and putting on more clothes than you even knew you had just to keep from shivering. It can be brutal. But this year hasn’t been all that cold.  I realize that warmth, or lack thereof, is in the eye of the beholder. I’m not saying that it hasn’t been cold because who would call 10° warm? But what I am saying, is that by Minnesota standards, our January has been pretty mild… and that is likely to continue.