Community Corner

Twin Cities Cold Weather Records

It may be cold now, but Minneapolis-St. Paul has much, much worse weather in its past.

After facing two cold spells within just weeks, there is no doubt Minnesotans have been suffering through some frigid temperatures. But this most recent freeze is a far cry from the coldest weather to pummel the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro.

Here’s a look at the Twin Cities’ coldest temperatures, courtesy of the National Weather Service.

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All-Time Low: Jan. 22, 1936 and Jan. 19, 1970 (-34 degrees Fahrenheit).

  • But Now: This recent cold snap dipped down to a mere -16 Monday.

Coldest Day: Jan. 22, 1936 (high of -17, low of -34 and an average temperature of -26).

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  • But Now: Monday had a high of -6, a low of -16 and an average of -11.


Longest period below freezing: 8 p.m. Dec. 18, 1977 through 11 a.m. Feb. 23, 1978— a period of 66 days and 16 hours.

  • But Now: This cold spell was above freezing as recently as Friday, when Minnesota warmed up to a sweltering 33 degrees.


Longest period of zero or below: 8 p.m. Dec. 31, 1911 through 1 p.m. Jan. 8, 1912—a period of 186 hours. It would have been 311 consecutive hours, but the temperature climbed above zero for four hours before dipping down again through Jan. 13, 1912.  

  • But Now: The Twin Cities were well above zero as recently as Sunday.


Longest period with an overnight minimum of zero or below: Jan. 18 through Feb. 22, 1936—36 consecutive days.

  • But Now: For this cold spell, the period only goes back to Sunday.


Longest period with an overnight minimum of -10 or below: Jan. 12 through Jan. 31, 1963—20 consecutive days.

  • But Now: Temperatures below -10 only go back to Monday for this most recent freeze.


Longest period with an overnight minimum of -20 or below: Feb.  7 through Feb. 12, 1899 and Jan. 30 through Feb. 4, 1996—six consecutive days.

  • But Now: Temperatures haven’t dropped this far during this cold spell.


Longest period with an overnight minimum of -30 or below: Jan. 24 and Jan. 25, 1904 and Jan. 11 and Jan. 12, 1912—two consecutive days.

  • But Now: Temperatures haven’t dropped this far during this cold spell.

 



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