6:11 PM Thursday, February 24, 2022
*February 2022 is on track to be the coldest February on record at Hibbing, Minnesota, while a top 10 coldest February on record is possible at International Falls, Duluth, and Ashland.
*Average monthly temperatures for February 2022 are running -7 to -10 degrees colder than average in the Northland (thru Feb. 23)
*43 subzero nights so far this winter (since Dec. 1) at Duluth, Minnesota. Average number of subzero nights at Duluth during an entire winter (Dec-Feb) is 32 subzero nights. Greatest number of subzero nights in a winter was in 1917 with 63 subzero nights, while the fewest number of subzero nights in a winter was in 1931 with 8 subzero nights.
It’s been a cold winter in the Northland — So far, the winter of 2021-22 ranks as 5th coldest on record by climate district in northeastern Minnesota.
Winter of 2021-22 has been cold in Wisconsin as well, although it currently doesn’t rank in the top 10 for coldest winters on record anywhere in the state.
The weather pattern locally will remain pretty quiet into early next week, but there continue to be indications of a more active weather pattern returning to the upper Midwest and western Great Lakes beginning later next week and beyond.
500mb height anomaly forecast valid March 4-11, 2022.
Note how the blue and even some green colors take over on the loop below. Blue and green colors indicate lower 500mb heights, potential troughs and low-pressure systems, while orange and red colors on the loop below represent higher heights and upper-level ridging.
Already seeing decent odds for getting 6 inches or more of snow in much of the Northland thru March 11, although those odds don’t really start to increase until after March 4.
EPS model
GEFS model
Almost every single GEFS model member (20 of them) shows 6″ or more of snow falling in Duluth and really in much of northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin thru March 12.
Purple colors on the images below represent snow totals of 6″ or more.
RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES BROKEN IN THE NORTHLAND THIS MORNING
International Falls, MN
New record low for 2/24: -40 F
Old record low for 2/24: -31 F set in 1917
Hibbing, MN
New record low for 2/24: -37 F
Old record low for 2/24: -33 F set in 1965
Blue dots with a white circle around them on the animation below represent stations that broke or tied a daily or monthly low temperature record over the past 24 hours.
Low Temperature Reports from Thursday morning, February 24, 2022
Seagull Lake, MN: -45 F
Ash Lake, MN: -42 F
Effie, MN: -40 F
International Falls, MN: -40 F
Ely, MN: -38 F
Cook, MN: -38 F
Eveleth, MN: -37 F
Chisholm-Hibbing Airport: -37 F
Littlefork, MN: -37 F
Bigfork, MN: -36 F
Orr, MN: -36 F
Cotton, MN: -36 F
Cass Lake, MN: -35 F
Crane Lake, MN: -33 F
Walker, MN: -31 F
Deer River, MN: -30 F
Hill City, MN: -29 F
Aitkin, MN: -29 F
Grand Rapids, MN: -29 F
Longville, MN: -29 F
Brainerd, MN: -27 F
Grand Marais Airport: -26 F
Northome, MN: -25 F
South Range, WI: -25 F
Twig, MN: -25 F
Barnes, WI: -24 F
McGregor, MN: -24 F
Pine River, MN: -24 F
Minong, WI: -24 F
Moose Lake, MN: -24 F
Saginaw, MN: -23 F
Webb Lake, WI: -23 F
Isabella, MN: -23 F
Glidden, WI: -22 F
Moose Lake, MN: -22 F
Solon Springs, WI: -22 F
Siren, WI: -22 F
Hayward, WI: -21 F
Spooner, WI: -21 F
Superior Airport: -20 F
Breezy Point, MN: -19 F
Cloquet, MN: -18 F
Hinckley, MN: -17 F
Ashland, WI: -17 F
Esko, MN: -16 F
Two Harbors, MN: -15 F
Duluth Airport: -13 F
Duluth Sky Harbor Airport: -13 F
Another frigid night ahead in the Northland tonight with lows ranging from around 5 below to 35 below zero (coldest temps across northern Minnesota)
Note: International Falls and Hibbing have the greatest chance to make a run at their record low temps Friday morning.
Record Low Temperatures for February 25
International Falls: -38 F set in 1909
Hibbing: -35 F set in 1967
Brainerd: -28 F set in 1950
Ashland: -26 F set in 1950 and 1967
Duluth: -26 F set in 1990
Still chilly on Friday with highs in the teens to around 20 in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.
Saturday is looking milder though as will finally see high temps get back to where they should be in late February (mid 20s to low 30s), But it does look rather breezy on Saturday with southwest winds possibly gusting to 20-30 mph.
There is a system that is passing mostly south of the Northland tonight, but the northern fringe of this system may bring a period of light snow to far southern portions of the Northland (south of the black line on map) this evening into early Friday morning.
Note: Total snowfall accumulations of an inch or less are possible tonight south of a line from Sandstone to Ashland.
Radar forecast thru 6 AM Friday (snow in blue colors)
Thanks for reading!
Tim