Courtesy: La Crosse National Weather Service
The arctic outbreak from January 27-31, 2019 had some of the lowest air temperatures to visit Minnesota since 1996, and the lowest wind chills since the 1980s.
Strong winds and arctic air on the heels of a feisty clipper-like snow storm brought extreme cold to Minnesota, the likes of which have not been seen in decades. The bitter cold brought some natural gas shortages just north of the metro and power outages to about 7,000 in the southern and western suburbs. Xcel Energy asked customers statewide to reduce their thermostat setting to 63 degrees. There were also broken water mains, and emergency personnel were busy with frostbite reports. Schools were closed for four days for many in the Twin Cities and outstate. The University of Minnesota was closed on the 30th and postal mail service was stopped statewide.
Air Temperature Recap
The -28 degrees F air temperature in the Twin Cities on January 30, 2019 was the lowest ambient air temperate in the Twin Cities since -32 degrees F on February 2, 1996.
The -13 degrees F maximum temperature in the Twin Cities on January 30, 2019 was the coldest maximum temperate since -17 degrees F on February 2, 1996.
Neither the minimum or maximum temperature in the Twin Cities on January 30 set a record for the date. However, the -56 at Cotton on January 27 did set the daily statewide record minimum temperature for the date. The old record was -54 at Pokegama Dam in 1904. Cotton recorded another -56 F daily low temperature on January 31, breaking the daily statewide record minimum temperature for the date as well. The old record was -55 degrees F at Embarrass in 1996.
Some record cold maximum temperature records were set across the state as the mercury stayed in the teens below zero on January 30. Some of these records include: -14 degrees F at Duluth, -19 degrees F at Rochester and International Falls and -17 degrees F at St. Cloud.
Wind Chill Temperature
The dangerously low windchill temperatures were perhaps the more noteworthy element of this cold air outbreak. The Twin Cities saw twelve hours straight of -50 degrees F or colder wind chill temperatures from 7pm on January 29 to 6am January 30, with a reading of -55F at 11pm January 29. This was the coldest wind chill reading in the Twin Cities since January 19, 1985.
A number of locations in northern Minnesota saw wind chill readings of -60 degrees F or colder including -65 degrees F at Hibbing at 8am on January 30.
MNDNR Climatology Office Wind Chill and Cold Temperature Articles
- State Record Low: February 2, 1996
- State Wind Chill Temperature Records
- Twin Cities Wind Chill Temperature History
Public Information Statements from the National Weather Service
RECORD EVENT REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 1228 AM CST THU JAN 31 2019 ...RECORD COLDEST HIGH TEMPERATURE SET AT DULUTH MN YESTERDAY... A RECORD COLDEST HIGH TEMPERATURE OF -14 DEGREES WAS SET AT DULUTH MN YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF -11 SET IN 1887. -------- RECORD EVENT REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 1228 AM CST THU JAN 31 2019 ...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE AND COLDEST HIGH TEMPERATURE SET AT INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN YESTERDAY... A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF -40 DEGREES WAS SET AT INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN YESTERDAY. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF -40 SET IN 1950. A RECORD COLDEST HIGH TEMPERATURE OF -19 DEGREES WAS SET AT INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF -14 SET IN 1909. -------- Below is a listing of the coldest wind chills observed and coldest temperatures (below) observed as of 12PM Wednesday. Observed Coldest Wind Chills (Chanhassen National Weather Service) LOCATION WIND CHILL TIME/DATE PROVIDER ALEXANDRIA 2SSE -63 F 0820 PM 01/29 MNDOT BENSON AP -62 F 0735 PM 01/29 AWOS WILLMAR AP -61 F 0716 PM 01/29 AWOS SAUK CENTRE AP -61 F 0656 PM 01/29 AWOS GLENWOOD AP -61 F 0435 AM 01/30 AWOS CLARA CITY 2WSW -61 F 0820 PM 01/29 MNDOT HARDING 3WNW -61 F 0400 AM 01/30 MNDOT BELGRADE 3ESE -61 F 1010 PM 01/29 MNDOT ELLENDALE 5NNE -61 F 1045 PM 01/29 MNDOT MENOMONIE AP -60 F 0515 AM 01/30 AWOS SAUK CENTRE 2SE -60 F 0845 PM 01/29 MNDOT WINTHROP 2W -60 F 0845 PM 01/29 MNDOT CANNON FALLS 7SSE -60 F 0545 AM 01/30 MNDOT MADELIA 3ENE -60 F 0900 PM 01/29 MNDOT NEW ULM AP -60 F 1015 PM 01/29 AWOS LONG PRAIRIE AP -59 F 0616 AM 01/30 AWOS ALEXANDRIA AP -59 F 0853 PM 01/29 ASOS FAIRMONT AP -59 F 1056 PM 01/29 AWOS MANKATO AP -59 F 1009 PM 01/29 AWOS RICE 1NNW -59 F 0105 AM 01/30 MNDOT OLIVIA AP -59 F 0955 PM 01/29 AWOS ST. CLOUD AP -59 F 0353 AM 01/30 ASOS BLUE EARTH 2NW -58 F 1045 PM 01/29 MNDOT NEW GERMANY 1NW -58 F 0315 AM 01/30 MNDOT RED WING 4W -58 F 0935 AM 01/30 MNDOT MARIETTA 5SSW -58 F 0815 PM 01/29 MNDOT OWATONNA AP -58 F 0346 AM 01/30 AWOS LITCHFIELD 3S -57 F 1111 PM 01/29 RAWS LITCHFIELD AP -57 F 0815 PM 01/29 AWOS CLEARWATER 1SE -57 F 0446 AM 01/30 MNDOT MAYER 1NE -57 F 0335 AM 01/30 MNDOT HANLEY FALLS -57 F 0945 PM 01/29 MNDOT MILACA 8N -57 F 0840 AM 01/30 MNDOT MONTEVIDEO AP -57 F 1015 PM 01/29 AWOS PAYNESVILLE AP -57 F 0916 AM 01/30 AWOS CUMBERLAND AP -57 F 0655 AM 01/30 AWOS WASECA AP -56 F 1015 PM 01/29 AWOS APPLETON AP -56 F 0916 PM 01/29 AWOS GRANITE FALLS AP -56 F 0836 PM 01/29 AWOS NEW PRAGUE 2W -56 F 0435 AM 01/30 MNDOT NEW RICHMOND AP -56 F 0455 AM 01/30 AWOS REDWOOD FALLS AP -56 F 0453 AM 01/30 ASOS MADISON AP -55 F 0935 PM 01/29 AWOS HUTCHINSON AP -55 F 0536 AM 01/30 AWOS MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL AP -55 F 1053 PM 01/29 ASOS SANTIAGO 3E -54 F 0320 AM 01/30 RAWS EAU CLAIRE AP -54 F 0856 AM 01/30 ASOS GLENCOE AP -54 F 0815 PM 01/29 AWOS LAKEVILLE AP -54 F 0436 AM 01/30 AWOS LITTLE FALLS AP -54 F 0316 AM 01/30 AWOS MAPLE LAKE AP -54 F 0355 AM 01/30 AWOS CRYSTAL AP -54 F 0853 AM 01/30 ASOS OSCEOLA AP -54 F 0515 AM 01/30 AWOS ST. PAUL DWTN AP -54 F 1153 PM 01/29 ASOS STANTON AP -54 F 1115 PM 01/29 AWOS BLAINE AP -53 F 0255 AM 01/30 AWOS EDEN PRAIRIE AP -53 F 0953 PM 01/29 ASOS GORDONSVILLE -53 F 0800 AM 01/30 GOES MORA AP -53 F 1216 AM 01/30 AWOS MORA 1ENE -53 F 0508 AM 01/30 RAWS RED WING AP -53 F 0116 AM 01/30 AWOS STANLEY 1SSE -53 F 0758 AM 01/30 WIDOT CARVER 3S -53 F 0449 AM 01/30 RAWS CANBY AP -52 F 1015 PM 01/29 AWOS PRINCETON AP -52 F 0255 AM 01/30 AWOS TONY AP -52 F 0615 AM 01/30 AWOS RICE LAKE AP -52 F 0835 AM 01/30 AWOS CHETEK AP -52 F 0635 AM 01/30 AWOS LITTLE FALLS 2SSE -51 F 1007 PM 01/29 RAWS SOUTH ST. PAUL 1WSW -51 F 0100 AM 01/30 MNDOT RUSH CITY AP -51 F 0416 AM 01/30 AWOS ST. CROIX FALLS 2ESE -51 F 0206 AM 01/30 WIDOT SKYLINE -50 F 0730 PM 01/29 MNDOT Observed Low Temperatures LOCATION TEMP TIME/DATE PROVIDER MELROSE -38 F 0700 AM 01/30 COOP HARDING 3WNW -36 F 0735 AM 01/30 MNDOT LONG PRAIRIE -34 F 0600 AM 01/30 COOP MILACA 8N -34 F 0745 AM 01/30 MNDOT LONG PRAIRIE AP -33 F 0836 AM 01/30 AWOS APPLETON AP -33 F 0810 AM 01/30 AWOS BENSON AP -33 F 0815 AM 01/30 AWOS GLENWOOD AP -33 F 0816 AM 01/30 AWOS MENOMONIE AP -33 F 1155 AM 01/30 AWOS LITTLE FALLS 2SSE -33 F 0807 AM 01/30 RAWS ALEXANDRIA 2SSE -33 F 0845 AM 01/30 MNDOT SAUK CENTRE 2SE -33 F 0830 AM 01/30 MNDOT BELGRADE 3ESE -33 F 0805 AM 01/30 MNDOT RICE 1NNW -33 F 0815 AM 01/30 MNDOT RICE -33 F 0700 AM 01/30 COOP BALDWIN -32 F 0730 AM 01/30 COOP BROOTEN 3NNE -32 F 0600 AM 01/30 HADS SAUK CENTRE AP -32 F 0437 AM 01/30 AWOS KIMBALL 3N -32 F 0600 AM 01/30 COOP FOLEY 6WSW -32 F 0820 AM 01/30 MNDOT MORA -32 F 0700 AM 01/30 COOP PAYNESVILLE AP -32 F 1155 AM 01/30 AWOS RUSH CITY AP -32 F 1155 AM 01/30 AWOS ANDOVER 1N -31 F 0600 AM 01/30 COOP ALEXANDRIA AP -31 F 1153 AM 01/30 ASOS WYOMING 6WSW -31 F 0706 AM 01/30 RAWS SANTIAGO 3E -31 F 0720 AM 01/30 RAWS MORA AP -31 F 0755 AM 01/30 AWOS MORA 1ENE -31 F 0808 AM 01/30 RAWS LITTLE FALLS AP -31 F 0855 AM 01/30 AWOS MADISON -31 F 0800 AM 01/30 COOP CLEARWATER 1SE -31 F 0830 AM 01/30 MNDOT APPLETON -31 F 0900 AM 01/30 GPSMET ALEXANDRIA -31 F 0700 AM 01/30 GPSMET MORRIS (AG EXP FRM) -31 F 0800 AM 01/30 COOP OSCEOLA AP -31 F 1155 AM 01/30 AWOS NEW RICHMOND AP -31 F 1155 AM 01/30 AWOS ST. CLOUD AP -31 F 1153 AM 01/30 ASOS ST. CROIX FALLS 2ESE -31 F 0605 AM 01/30 WIDOT CUMBERLAND AP -31 F 0815 AM 01/30 AWOS WILD RIVER -31 F 0800 AM 01/30 COOP WILLMAR 5N -31 F 0600 AM 01/30 COOP AUGUSTA (RS) -30 F 0800 AM 01/30 COOP APPLETON -30 F 0815 AM 01/30 GOES BLOOMER -30 F 0800 AM 01/30 COOP EAU CLAIRE AP -30 F 1156 AM 01/30 ASOS ELK RIVER -30 F 0700 AM 01/30 COOP ELLSWORTH 1E -30 F 0700 AM 01/30 COOP KNAPP 3SW -30 F 0657 AM 01/30 WIDOT LITCHFIELD 3S -30 F 0711 AM 01/30 RAWS MILACA -30 F 0730 AM 01/30 COOP TWIN LAKES 5SE -30 F 0800 AM 01/30 MNDOT CLARA CITY 2WSW -30 F 0740 AM 01/30 MNDOT MAYER 1NE -30 F 0815 AM 01/30 MNDOT CANNON FALLS 7SSE -30 F 0845 AM 01/30 MNDOT RED WING 4W -30 F 0845 AM 01/30 MNDOT RICHFIELD 3ESE -30 F 0745 AM 01/30 MNDOT WASECA (AG EXP FRM) -30 F 0800 AM 01/30 COOP CHETEK AP -30 F 1155 AM 01/30 AWOS ZUMBROTA -30 F 0700 AM 01/30 COOP ALBERT LEA AP -29 F 0816 AM 01/30 AWOS AUGUSTA 1NW -29 F 0805 AM 01/30 RAWS ALBERT LEA 3SE -29 F 0800 AM 01/30 COOP WILLMAR AP -29 F 0815 AM 01/30 AWOS BUFFALO AP -29 F 1155 AM 01/30 AWOS EDEN PRAIRIE AP -29 F 1153 AM 01/30 ASOS JORDAN 1SW -29 F 0530 AM 01/30 COOP MENOMONIE -29 F 0700 AM 01/30 COOP MAPLE LAKE AP -29 F 1156 AM 01/30 AWOS CRYSTAL AP -29 F 1153 AM 01/30 ASOS NEW GERMANY 1NW -29 F 0830 AM 01/30 MNDOT MORTON -29 F 0810 AM 01/30 MNDOT HANLEY FALLS -29 F 0745 AM 01/30 MNDOT NEW PRAGUE 2W -29 F 0800 AM 01/30 MNDOT MAPLE GROVE -29 F 0820 AM 01/30 MNDOT SOUTH ST. PAUL 1WSW -29 F 0810 AM 01/30 MNDOT ELLENDALE 5NNE -29 F 0815 AM 01/30 MNDOT MONTEVIDEO AP -29 F 0756 AM 01/30 AWOS NEW ULM 3SE -29 F 0539 AM 01/30 COOP PRINCETON AP -29 F 0836 AM 01/30 AWOS REDWOOD FALLS -29 F 0700 AM 01/30 COOP ROCKFORD 3W -29 F 0600 AM 01/30 GOES RICE LAKE AP -29 F 1155 AM 01/30 AWOS REDWOOD FALLS AP -29 F 1153 AM 01/30 ASOS STANLEY 1SSE -29 F 0758 AM 01/30 WIDOT CARVER 3S -29 F 0749 AM 01/30 RAWS ST. PAUL (UMN-AG EXP FRM) -29 F 0800 AM 01/30 COOP WELLS -29 F 0800 AM 01/30 COOP CANBY -28 F 0800 AM 01/30 COOP FAIRMONT AP -28 F 1156 AM 01/30 AWOS GORDONSVILLE -28 F 0830 AM 01/30 GOES HUTCHINSON AP -28 F 1155 AM 01/30 AWOS HOLCOMBE -28 F 0700 AM 01/30 COOP LADYSMITH 2SW -28 F 0805 AM 01/30 RAWS MANKATO AP -28 F 1156 AM 01/30 AWOS BLUE EARTH 2NW -28 F 0805 AM 01/30 MNDOT WINTHROP 2W -28 F 0810 AM 01/30 MNDOT WASECA 1SSE -28 F 0900 AM 01/30 MNDOT MADELIA 3ENE -28 F 0810 AM 01/30 MNDOT MARIETTA 5SSW -28 F 0815 AM 01/30 MNDOT SKYLINE -28 F 0745 AM 01/30 MNDOT ST. PETER 2N -28 F 0815 AM 01/30 MNDOT ST. PAUL 1NNE -28 F 0745 AM 01/30 MNDOT LE SUEUR 1S -28 F 0700 AM 01/30 GPSMET MORRISTOWN -28 F 0830 AM 01/30 GOES MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL AP -28 F 1153 AM 01/30 ASOS COATES 2SW -28 F 0600 AM 01/30 HADS STANTON AP -28 F 1155 AM 01/30 AWOS FALCON HGTS -28 F 0600 AM 01/30 HADS WINNEBAGO -28 F 0800 AM 01/30 COOP BLAINE AP -27 F 0845 AM 01/30 AWOS CANBY AP -27 F 1156 AM 01/30 AWOS MADISON AP -27 F 0816 AM 01/30 AWOS GRANITE FALLS AP -27 F 1155 AM 01/30 AWOS GLENCOE AP -27 F 1155 AM 01/30 AWOS HASTINGS (L/D 2) -27 F 0730 AM 01/30 COOP JIM FALLS 3NW -27 F 0615 AM 01/30 COOP LITCHFIELD AP -27 F 0856 AM 01/30 AWOS LAKEVILLE AP -27 F 0816 AM 01/30 AWOS APPLE VALLEY -27 F 0800 AM 01/30 GPSMET OLIVIA AP -27 F 0815 AM 01/30 AWOS OWATONNA AP -27 F 0629 AM 01/30 AWOS TONY AP -27 F 1155 AM 01/30 AWOS RED WING AP -27 F 0816 AM 01/30 AWOS SOUTH ST. PAUL AP -27 F 1156 AM 01/30 AWOS ST. PAUL DWTN AP -27 F 1153 AM 01/30 ASOS NEW ULM AP -27 F 0856 AM 01/30 AWOS WINNEBAGO -27 F 0600 AM 01/30 GOES FARMINGTON 1SE -27 F 0800 AM 01/30 NWS WASECA AP -26 F 0856 AM 01/30 AWOS MINNEAPOLIS DWTN -26 F 0600 AM 01/30 COOP HENDERSON 3NNE -23 F 0840 AM 01/30 UPR