Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Subscribe to the MPR News with Kerri Miller podcast

Minnesota's winter got off to a mild start, but the recent string of subzero temperatures was a cold and cruel awakening for many across the state.

A few years ago, Pete Boulay came up with a method to measure just how harsh winters in the Twin Cities are. Boulay, a state climatologist, developed the 

 which ranks modern winters against winters of years past.

To date, this winter is a 21 on that index, Boulay told MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner. That's 15 points for the cold and 6 for snow, Boulay explained.

"If winter ended today, we'd have the second or third easiest winter on record," Boulay said. Those cursing the cold should relish the season's late start. "We really didn't have winter until after Christmas, for the most part."

By comparison, the Twin Cities winter of 2013 to 2014 hit 207 points — the ninth most severe winter on record, according to Boulay's analysis. Last winter ended with just 55 points. 

To hear the full discussion with meteorologist Paul Huttner and climatologists Pete Boulay and Mark Seeley, use the audio player above. The three "weather heads" discuss the forthcoming East Coast storm and Minnesota's winter to date.

Weather and Climate News

Shows

Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller

Kerri Miller Feature

MPR News Programs and Podcasts

Climate Cast ®

MPR News Staff

Author

State climatologist Pete Boulay created the "Winter Misery Index" to answer the question: How do modern winters compare with the bone-chilling winters many people remember?

Climatologists Pete Boulay and Mark Seeley joined MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner to discuss Minnesota's winter and the forthcoming East Coast storm that could break snowfall records.

Climate Cast: The 'Winter Misery Index'

Scarecrows in a garden wear snow shrouds.

What's our current 'Winter Misery Index'?

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox