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Climate of Minnesota

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On March 29, 1881 snowdrifts in western Minnesota were larger than locomotives.

The climate of Minnesota is typical of a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. The state's location in the Upper Midwest allows it to experience some of the widest variety of weather in the United States, and each of the four seasons has its own distinct characteristics. The areas near Lake Superior in the Minnesota Arrowhead region experience weather unique from the rest of the state. The moderating effect of Lake Superior keeps the surrounding area relatively cooler in the summer and relatively warmer in the winter, giving that region a taste of a maritime climate. On the Köppen climate classification, the southern half of Minnesota, roughly from the Twin Cities region southward, falls in the warm summer humid continental climate zone (Dfa), and the northern two-thirds of Minnesota falls in the cool summer humid continental climate zone (Dfb).

Winter in Minnesota is characterized by cold (below freezing) temperatures and snowfall. Snow is the main form of winter precipitation, but freezing rain, ice, sleet, and sometimes even rain are all possible during the winter months. Common storm systems include Alberta clippers or Panhandle hooks, some of which evolve into blizzards. Annual snowfall extremes have ranged from over 170 inches (432 cm) in the rugged Superior Highlands of the North Shore to as little as 10 inches (25 cm) in southern Minnesota. Temperatures as low as −60 °F (−51 °C) have occurred during Minnesota winters. Spring is a time of major transition in Minnesota. Early spring commonly sees snowstorms, but by late spring as temperatures begin to moderate the state can experience tornado outbreaks, a risk which diminishes but does not cease through the summer and into the fall.

Summer sees heat and humidity predominate in the south, while warm and less humid conditions are generally present in the north. These humid conditions help kick off thunderstorm activity 30–40 days a year. Summer high temperatures in Minnesota average in the mid 80s (30 °C) in the south to the upper 70s (25 °C) in the north, with temperatures as hot as 114 °F (46 °C) possible. The growing season in Minnesota varies from 90 days per year in the Iron Range to 160 days in southeast Minnesota. Tornadoes are possible in Minnesota from March through November, but the peak tornado month is June, followed by July, May, and August. The state averages 24 tornadoes per year. Minnesota is the driest state in the Midwest. Average annual precipitation across the state ranges from around 35 inches (89 cm) in the southeast to just 20 inches (51 cm) in the northwest. Autumn weather in Minnesota is largely the reverse of spring weather. The jet stream, which tends to weaken in summer, begins to re-strengthen, leading to a quicker changing of weather patterns and an increased variability of temperatures. By late October and November these storm systems become strong enough to form major winter storms. Fall and spring are the windiest times of the year in Minnesota.

General climatology

File:Minneapolis average daily temperature.png
The average daily temperature of Minneapolis, Minnesota varies from 13 °F to 73 °F (–10 °C to 23 °C).

Due to its location in the center of North America and exactly halfway between the Equator and the North Pole, Minnesota experiences temperature extremes characteristic of a continental climate, with cold winters and mild to hot summers in the south and frigid winters and generally cool summers in the north.[1] Each season has distinctive upper air patterns which bring different weather conditions with them. One feature of a continental climate is that weather patterns can be unpredictable. For example, an Alberta clipper, a low pressure system originating in the province of Alberta in Canada, would be a common winter occurrence in Minnesota. But with the general unpredictability of weather in a continental climate, such a storm system could occur in spring, or in late autumn.[2] Hot weather, though usually confined to June, July, and August, can sometimes begin as early as April or May, and could spill over into September.[3]

Being 1,000 miles (1,609 km) from any large body of water (with the exception of Lake Superior), temperatures and precipitation in Minnesota can vary widely. Minnesota is far enough north to experience −60 °F (−51 °C) temperatures and blizzards during the winter months, but far enough south to experience 114 °F (46 °C) temperatures and tornado outbreaks in the summer.[4] The 174 degree (96 °C) variation between Minnesota's highest and lowest temperature is the 11th largest variation of any U.S. State, and 3rd largest of any non-mountainous state (behind North Dakota and South Dakota).[5]

Average Temperatures in Minnesota (in  °Fahrenheit)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Alexandria[6] 8 15 27 43 56 65 70 68 58 45 28 14
Duluth[7] 10 17 26 39 48 58 66 65 56 45 31 17
International Falls[8] 3 11 24 39 53 62 66 64 53 42 24 9
Twin Cities[9] 13 20 32 47 59 68 73 71 61 49 32 19
Winona[10] 18 24 36 50 62 71 76 73 64 52 37 23
Worthington[11] 11 18 29 44 57 67 71 68 59 47 30 17
Average Temperatures in Minnesota (in  °Celsius)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Alexandria −13 −9 −3 6 13 18 21 20 14 7 −2 −10
Duluth −12 −8 −3 4 9 14 19 18 13 7 −1 −8
International Falls −16 −12 −4 4 12 17 19 18 12 6 −4 −13
Twin Cities −11 −7 0 8 15 20 23 22 16 9 0 −7
Winona −8 −4 2 10 17 22 24 23 18 11 3 −5
Worthington −12 −8 −2 7 14 19 22 20 15 8 −1 −8

Minnesota is far from major sources of moisture and is in the transition zone between the moist East and the arid Great Plains. Annual average precipitation across the state ranges from around 35 inches (89 cm) in the southeast to just 20 inches (51 cm) in the northwest.[12] Snow is the main form of precipitation from November through March, while rain is the most common the rest of the year. Annual snowfall extremes have ranged from over 170 inches (432 cm) in the rugged Superior Highlands of the North Shore to as little as 2.3 inches (5.8 cm) in southern Minnesota.[13][14] It has snowed in Minnesota during every month with the exception of July, and the state averages 110 days per year with snow cover of an inch (2.5 cm) or greater.[15]

Lake Superior

Lake Superior moderates the climate of those parts of Minnesota's Arrowhead Region near the shore. The lake acts as a heat sink, keeping the state's North Shore area relatively cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. [16] While this effect is marked near the lake, it does not reach very far inland. For example, Grand Marais on the lakeshore has an average July high temperature of 70 °F (21 °C), while Virginia, at about the same latitude but inland about 100 miles (161 km) to the west, has an average July high of 77 °F (25 °C). Conversely, Virginia's average high temperature in January is 15 °F (−9 °C), while Grand Marais' is a relatively balmy 23 °F (−5 °C).[17]

The cool, moist air near Lake Superior makes fog a frequent occurrence near the shore. [18]

Just a few miles inland from Lake Superior are the Sawtooth Mountains, which largely confine the marine air masses and associated precipitation to lowers elevation near the lake.[19]

The prevailing northwest winter winds also limit the lake's influence. Places near the shoreline can receive lake-effect snow, but as the state lies north and west of the lake, snowfall amounts are not nearly as large as they are in locations like Wisconsin and Michigan that lie downwind to the south.[18] Even so, the single largest snowstorm in Minnesota history was a lake effect event. On January 6, 1994 Finland received 36 inches (91 cm) of lake effect snow in 24 hours, and 47 inches (119 cm) over a three day period. Both are Minnesota records. At 85 inches (216 cm) per year, the port city of Duluth has the highest average snowfall total of any city in Minnesota.[20] At 58.9 °F (14.9 °C), Grand Marais has the lowest average summer temperature of any city in the state.[21]

The climatological effects of Lake Superior tend to stifle convection, thus limiting the potential for tornadoes.[15] Although Cook and Lake counties are two of the largest counties in the state, they have experienced only 7 tornadoes in the past 56 years.[22]

See also: List of Minnesota weather records

Winter

Even though winter does not officially start until late December, Minnesota usually begins experiencing winter-like conditions in November, sometimes as early as late October. As with many other Midwestern states, winter in Minnesota is characterized by cold (below freezing) temperatures and snowfall. Weather systems can move in from the north, west, or south, with the majority of the weather being driven in from the north. A vigorous jet stream brings high and low-pressure systems through in quick succession, which can cause large temperature variations over a short period of time.

Temperature

File:WinterinStpaul.jpg
A wintry, February day in St. Paul

As the last remnants of summertime air in the southern U.S. start to lose their grip, cold polar air building up in northern Canada starts to push farther and farther south, eventually spreading into Minnesota. By the time December and January arrive, Minnesota is fully engulfed in the polar air and is then subjected to arctic air masses moving in. Because there are no natural barriers north or northwest of Minnesota to block arctic air from pouring south, Minnesota gets regular shots of the arctic air through the winter.[23] High pressure systems which descend south from the Canadian plains behind the fronts bring light winds, clear skies, and bitterly cold temperatures. The northern part of Minnesota gets the brunt of the cold air. Tower, Minnesota, sometimes called the "Icebox of the nation", sinks below zero (−17 °C) an average of 71 times per year,[24] and the ten coldest counties in the country, based on January minimums, are all located in Minnesota.[25] The air mass then slowly moderates as it moves south into the rest of the state. Alberta clippers alternate with these high-pressure systems, bringing high winds and some snowfall with them.

Minnesota occasionally gets breaks from the polar and arctic air when a zonal flow takes hold. This means that the jet stream will move in a west to east motion (rather than north to south) and push air from the Pacific Ocean into the region. In Minnesota this pattern commonly leads to a prolonged period of above freezing high temperatures that gives Minnesotans a break from the winter freeze. Storms that move into Minnesota from a more westerly direction generally do not bring significant amounts of precipitation with them.[26]

Precipitation

Winter precipitation comes in a few different forms. Snow is the main form of precipitation, but freezing rain, ice, sleet and sometimes even rain are all possible during the winter months. Larger storm systems, often Panhandle hooks or other storms originating from the Pacific Ocean, can bring large amounts of snow and even blizzard conditions.

Alberta Clippers

Typical Minnesota winter storm patterns

Alberta clippers are fast moving areas of low pressure that move through Minnesota during the winter months.[27] Clippers get their name from Alberta, Canada, the province from which they begin their southward track. Other variations of the same type of storm systems are Saskatchewan Screamers or Manitoba Maulers. The name given depends from which province they descend. Although clippers originate over the northern Pacific Ocean, they lose most of their moisture through orographic lift when they collide with the Canadian Rockies. Because of the limited moisture content and quick movement of the systems, clippers rarely produce more than 6 in (15 cm) of snow as they pass through Minnesota.[28] The biggest effects of an Alberta Clipper are what follows them, and that is arctic air, high wind speed, and dangerous wind chills. This often results in severe blowing and drifting snow, and sometimes even blizzard conditions.[29] Alberta Clippers often proceed to become copious lake effect snow producers on the southern and eastern shores of the great lakes.[30]

Panhandle Hooks

In terms of their characteristics, Panhandle hooks are nearly the opposite of Alberta clippers. Instead of forming in the north and dropping south, these low pressure systems form in the southwestern United States and then move northeast. They get their name from the location where they usually make their turn to the north; near the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas. Unlike clippers, these storms usually have a great deal of moisture to work with. As the storms make their turn to the north, they pull in moist air from the nearby Gulf of Mexico and pull it northward toward Minnesota and other parts of the Midwest.[31] As these systems move to the northeast, there will usually be a heavy band of snow to the northwest of the low pressure center if there is enough cold air present. A wintery mix of precipitation, rain, or sometimes even thunderstorms will then often occur to the south of it.[32] Snowfall over a foot (30 cm) is not uncommon with a panhandle hook, and because of the high moisture content in these systems the snow is usually wet and heavy. Large panhandle hooks can become powerful enough to draw in arctic air after they pass by the state, leaving bitter cold temperatures and wind chills in their wake. Panhandle Hooks are responsible for some of the most famous blizzards that have occurred in the Midwest, including the Great Storm of 1975.[29]

Spring

A Minnesota wetland during the month of April

Spring is a time of major transition in Minnesota. As winter nears its end, the sun rises higher in the sky and temperatures begin to moderate. As this happens much of the Midwest starts to experience severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.[33] Storm systems that move inland from the Pacific begin to collide with the increasingly warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. In the early part of the spring Minnesota is usually not in a geographically favorable position to experience severe weather, as the warm air needed for it has not yet pushed that far to the north.[34] Early spring tornado outbreaks do occur occasionally in Minnesota though, as evidenced by the Comfrey - St. Peter Tornado Outbreak on March 29, 1998. More often, Minnesota is on the northern (cooler) side of major storm systems in the early spring, which instead results in only rain, and if it's cold enough, snow. Even though the winter snow pack starts to melt in southern Minnesota during early March, there is usually still enough cold air available in Canada to produce major snow storms into late April.[35] As spring progresses, the jet stream start to push storm systems farther to the north, and southern Minnesota becomes more prone to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.[34] As spring moves into the later stages, the chances for snow continue to drop and eventually disappear, south to north. By the time it gets warm enough for severe weather in northern Minnesota, the strength of storm systems have usually started to decrease, which results in fewer severe storms in northern Minnesota compared to the southern part of the state.

Wind turbines in western Minnesota

Wind

With the exception of areas along the shores of Lake Superior, winds in Minnesota generally prevail from the north and northwest in the winter, and south and southeast in the summer.[15] On average, fall and spring are the windiest times of the year in Minnesota. October is the windiest month in northwest Minnesota, while April is the windiest over the rest of the state.[36] Winds generally average between 9–11 mph (14–18 km/h) across the state, with one major exception. The heaviest winds in the state are found on the Buffalo Ridge, or Coteau des Prairies, a flatiron-shaped area extending from Watertown, South Dakota, diagonally across southwestern Minnesota and into Iowa. Created by two lobes of a glacier parting around a pre-existing plateau during the (Pleistocene) Ice Age, the Buffalo Ridge is ideal for wind power generation, with average wind speeds of 16.1 mph (26.8 km/h).[37]

Floods

Minnesota is prone to flooding in its major rivers due to spring snowmelt runoff and ice jams. Spring flooding to some degree occurs almost annually on some Minnesota rivers, but major floods have occurred in 1965, 1969, 1997 and 2001.[38][39] The flooding in 1965 was the worst flood in Minnesota history on the Mississippi River, while the flooding in 1997 was the worst in history on the Red River.[40] The Red River flood of 1997 was aided heavily by the 11 blizzards that struck Minnesota that winter.[15][41] Besides heavy winter and spring snowfall, cold winter temperatures and heavy fall and spring rains causing sudden run-off surges are also common causes of spring river flooding in Minnesota.[42]

Minnesota is also prone to both river flooding and localized flash flooding to due extended periods of heavy late-spring and summer rainfall. The Great Flood of 1993 on the Mississippi River was caused by copious amounts of rain that fell after the spring snow melt.[43] The 2007 Midwest flooding, which affected the hilly Driftless area of southeast Minnesota was the result of a training pattern of storms mixing warm moist air from Tropical Storm Erin with cooler Canadian air, resulting in record 24-hour rainfall totals of up to 17 inches (432 mm).[44]

Summer

Canoes ready for use on a summer afternoon at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis

During a Minnesota summer, heat and humidity predominate in the south, while warm and less humid conditions are generally present in the north. A main feature of summer weather in Minnesota and the Midwestern United States as a whole is the weakening of the jet stream, leading to slower movement of air masses, a general increase in the stability of temperatures, and less wind.[45] The strong wind that does blow almost always comes from the south, bringing in warm temperatures and humidity. These humid conditions and a jet stream that has pushed into the northern parts of the U.S. help kick off thunderstorm activity 30–40 days a year.[46]

Temperatures

Daily average summer temperatures in Minnesota range from the low 70s (22 °C) in the south to the mid 60s °F (19 °C) in the north.[21] Because summer time air masses are not as volatile as in the winter, daily high and low temperatures rarely vary more than 15 degrees (7 °C) either side of normal. While summertime around much of the country means long stretches of hot and humid weather, Minnesota is located far enough north where shots of cooler, drier polar air frequently move in behind polar fronts dropping south from Canada.[14] The polar air typically does not stick around very long though, and is quickly replaced by the warmer and more humid air from the Gulf of Mexico once again. The cool, dry polar air colliding with hot and humid summertime air keep the threat of thunderstorms and tornadoes around in Minnesota through July and August.[34] Northern Minnesota is considerably cooler and less humid than southern Minnesota is during the summer months. For example, Duluth's annual average temperature and dew point are 6 degrees (3.4 °C) cooler than Minneapolis'.[47]

Average Precipitation in Minnesota (in inches)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Alexandria[6] 1.0 0.7 1.5 1.9 3.0 4.4 3.3 3.6 2.7 2.2 1.2 0.6
Duluth[7] 1.0 0.5 1.4 1.6 2.3 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 1.9 1.4 0.8
International Falls[8] 0.8 0.6 1.0 1.4 2.6 4.0 3.4 3.1 3.0 2.0 1.4 0.7
Twin Cities[9] 1.0 0.8 1.9 2.3 3.2 4.3 4.1 4.1 2.7 2.1 1.9 1.0
Winona[10] 1.4 0.7 1.8 3.5 3.9 4.2 4.4 4.7 3.9 2.2 2.2 1.3
Worthington[11] 0.7 0.6 1.9 2.7 3.4 4.6 3.6 3.5 2.6 2.0 1.7 0.7
Average Precipitation in Minnesota (in centimeters)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Alexandria 2.5 1.8 3.8 4.8 7.6 11.2 8.4 9.1 6.9 5.6 3.0 1.5
Duluth 2.5 1.3 3.6 4.1 5.8 9.4 9.4 9.4 9.4 4.8 3.6 2.0
International Falls 2.0 1.5 2.5 3.6 6.6 10.2 8.6 7.9 7.6 5.1 3.6 1.8
Twin Cities 2.5 2.0 4.8 5.8 8.1 12.3 10.4 10.4 6.9 5.3 4.8 2.5
Winona 3.6 1.8 4.6 8.9 9.9 10.7 11.2 11.9 9.9 5.6 5.6 3.3
Worthington 1.8 1.5 4.8 6.9 8.6 11.7 9.1 8.9 6.6 5.1 4.3 1.8

July is the hottest month in Minnesota state-wide, and is usually the month when the peak heat waves occur. In July, 1936, Minnesota and the rest of the Midwest suffered through its most severe heat wave on record. Most of the state was engulfed in 100 °F (38 °C) temperatures for several days in a row, and Minnesota's all time record high temperature of 114 °F (46 °C) was tied during this stretch. This heat wave was also responsible for setting the Twin Cities' all time record high of 108 °F (42 °C), as well as the all time record high of several other cities across the state.[48]

The region of Minnesota that experiences the hottest summer temperatures is not the southern part of the state, rather it's the west. Coteau des Prairies can heat cities to the north of it similar to how places in the Rocky Mountains are warmed by Chinook Winds. As southwest winds blow down the slope of Coteau des Prairies, the air compresses and warms. This makes the already hot air even hotter, and is the reason why places like Beardsley and Moorhead share the honor as having recorded the warmest temperature in the state, despite their higher latitudes.[14]

Precipitation

The summer months of June, July and August account for nearly half of the annual precipitation total across the state of Minnesota.[49] Most of this rain falls from thunderstorms, a frequent summer occurrence. Even though summer is the primary season for Minnesota to experience thunderstorms, they can occur from March to November. These storms can become severe, producing large hail, strong tornadoes, and large bow echos that result in damaging straight-line winds. Minnesota has experienced several major derecho events, most recently the Boundary Waters-Canadian Derecho which blew down millions of trees in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) on July 4 1999.[50]

Summertime thunderstorms are fueled by dew points that often reach into the 70s °F (21 °C) and sometimes even 80 °F (27 °C).[51] In addition to severe conditions, thunderstorms produce heavy rain and cloud to ground lightning. Heavy rain brings flash floods to Minnesota an average of three days per year.[23] With the exception of hail, summer precipitation in Minnesota is almost always in the form of rain. The lone exception is in far northern Minnesota, where in mid-September, small amounts of snow become a possibility.[52]

File:Tor alley.gif
Southern Minnesota is located on the edge of Tornado Alley

Droughts

As with any agricultural state droughts are an annual summer concern in Minnesota, especially for farmers. The growing season (which varies from 90 days per year in the Iron Range to 160 days in southeast Minnesota) is when Minnesota averages its highest percentage of annual precipitation, so a lack of rainfall during this time period can be devastating to crops.[23] The last major drought in Minnesota was in 1988. During that year, the period of April – July was the 2nd driest in the previous century, and the period of May – August was the hottest on record. The combination of dry skies and heat caused a severe drought which cost the state approximately 1.2 billion dollars in crop losses.[53] Other memorable drought years were 1976 and the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s. During the dust bowl, inappropriate farming techniques, enhanced by years of drought conditions led to dust storms in Minnesota and the other parts of the Midwest.[54] Drought conditions also have helped spawn forest fires. In 1894 the Great Hinckley Fire destroyed Hinckley killing an estimated 459 people, and in 1918 a forest fire killed 453 people in the vicinity of Cloquet.[55] More recently, in 2006, the Cavity Lake Fire burned 31,830 acres (129 km²) in the BWCA.[56] This location still lays host to millions of dead trees, blown over during the derecho event in 1999.

Tornadoes

An F3 tornado in southern Minnesota on August 24 2006

Tornadoes are possible in Minnesota from March – November, but the peak tornado month is June, followed by July, May, and August. Tornadoes are most common in the southern part of the state, which is located on the northern edge of tornado alley. Even though Minnesota does not receive as many tornadoes as other parts of the Midwest, Minnesota has seen its share of deadly storms. The state averages 24 tornadoes per year,[34] and on average has an F5 tornado once every 25 years. Some of the memorable Minnesota tornadoes and outbreaks are:

Fall

Fall brings a burst of color to Maplewood State Park.

Autumn weather in Minnesota is marked by the rapid decrease of severe thunderstorms, dramatic cooling, and eventually the possibility of blizzards. From September to December the average temperature in the state falls by approximately 43 °F (23 °C), the largest such temperature swing within any Minnesota season.[21] But with summer-time heat still prevalent in the southern U.S. and colder air quickly taking hold in Canada, Minnesota can be affected by wide temperature swings in short periods of time. Because of this, the jet stream, which tends to weaken during the summer months, begins to re-strengthen. This leads to quicker changes in weather patterns and increasingly strong storm systems.[59][60] As autumn moves on these storm systems bring with them progressively colder air, eventually changing the rain over snow, generally starting in October in the northern part of the state and November in the south.[61]

By late October and November dynamics are generally in place to allow storm systems to become very intense. In fact, Minnesota's all time record low pressure was recorded during fall on November 10, 1998.[13] If these powerful storm systems are able to draw enough cold air southward from Canada, they can evolve into powerful blizzards. Some of Minnesota's most memorable winter storm events have occurred during the middle part of the fall season. On November 11, 1940 the southeast half of Minnesota was surprised by the Armistice Day Blizzard. Temperatures in the 60s °F (16 °C) on the morning of November 11 dropped into the single digits (below –12 °C) by the morning of November 12, bringing with them 27 inches (69 cm) of snow and 60 mph (97 km/h) winds. 154 people died in this blizzard, 49 of them in Minnesota.[62][63] On October 31, 1991, much of Minnesota was rocked by the Halloween Blizzard. A band of snowfall of 24+ in (60+ cm) fell from the Twin Cities north to Duluth. It was the single largest snow storm ever recorded in many communities across eastern Minnesota.[64]

Main article: Culture of Minnesota
Cross Country skiing in Eagan, Minnesota

Minnesota's climate has done much to shape the image of the state. Minnesotans boast of their "theater of seasons", with a late but intense spring, a summer of water sports, a fall of brilliantly colored leaves, and (last but surely not least) a long winter with outdoor sports and activities.

"Summer at the lake" is a Minnesota tradition. Water skiing was invented in Minnesota by Ralph Samuelson, and the Minneapolis Aquatennial features a milk carton boat race. Contestants build boats from milk cartons and float them on Minneapolis area lakes, with recognition based more on colorful and imaginative designs than on actual racing performance.[65]

But while Minnesota's warm summers provide its natives and tourists with a variety of outdoor activities, the state is known for its winters. Many Minnesotans embrace winter. The state has produced curlers and skiers who have competed in the Winter Olympics, pioneers who invented the snowmobile, and legions of ice fishing enthusiasts.[66]

Ice fishing in Minnesota has been a theme in Hollywood films.

The state is also known for enthusiastic ice hockey players, both at the amateur and professional levels. Eveleth, Minnesota, home to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, boasts of the number of quality players and the contributions of the city (and the rest of the Mesabi Range) to the growth and development of hockey in the United States.[67]

To many outsiders, Minnesota's winters appear to be cold and inhospitable. A World War II newscaster, in describing the brutally cold conditions of the Russian front, stated that at least Minnesotans could understand it.[66] A New York journalist visited St. Paul and declared that the city was "another Siberia, unfit for human habitation." In response, the city decided to build a huge ice palace in 1886, similar to one that Montreal had built in 1885. They hired the architects of the Canadian ice palace to design one for St. Paul, and built a palace 106 ft (32.3 m) high with ice blocks cut from a nearby lake.[65] This began the tradition of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, a ten day festival which celebrates Minnesota's winter season.[68]

Minnesota's winters are the setting of several Hollywood films, including the ice fishing comedies of Grumpy Old Men and Grumpier Old Men, set and filmed in the state.[69] [70] The 1996 film noir Fargo also features the backdrop of a Minnesota winter, but like most of the characters in the movie, the climate is portrayed as bleak and inhospitable.[71]

Summer resorts on Minnesota's "10,000 lakes" may prefer to emphasize warm-season activities, but from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show's Frostbite Falls, Minnesota to Fargo, long and cold winters seem to be the popular image of the climate of Minnesota.

See also

References

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  42. ^ "Climatic Conditions Leading to the Spring Flooding of 2001". Minnesota Climatology Office. April 21, 2001. Retrieved 2006-11-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ Larson, Lee (June 28, 1996). "The Great USA Flood of 1993". NOAA. Retrieved 2006-11-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  45. ^ "Typical speeds of jet stream winds". USA Today. December 3, 2003. Retrieved 2006-11-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  52. ^ "September in the Northern Plains". Intellicast.com. Retrieved 2006-11-22.
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  54. ^ "Timeline of the Dust Bowl". PBS. Retrieved 2006-11-26.
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  56. ^ "Cavity Lake fire nearly history". Associated Press. August 6, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  57. ^ "Sauk Rapids History". City of Sauk Rapids. Retrieved 2006-11-10.
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