Weather chats with Mark Seeley

Retired University of Minnesota climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley reflects on a dry spring, and the benefits of recent rain.
Retired University of Minnesota climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley found that a third of days in March saw wind gusts over 35 mph, and nearly half the days in April did, too. So far, May has been somewhat quieter.
April was nothing short of a weather rollercoaster in Minnesota, bringing temperatures that ranged from the upper 80s in some areas to zero degrees in others.
April has brought a wide range of temperatures to Minnesota this year — stretching from the 80s early in the month to record lows in some areas this week.
Dozens of daily high temperature records were broken around the state on April 5, with more than 60 climate stations reporting temperatures of 80 degrees or above. That record heat was quickly followed by much-needed spring rain.
An MPR News listener wanted to know whether there are days in Minnesota that have seen record high and low temperatures spanning more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Minnesota registered the lowest temperature in the lower 48 states at least 10 times in February, according to retired University of Minnesota climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley.
An MPR listener wanted to know whether Feb. 14 set any records for cold in Minnesota.
It was a week of bitterly cold temperatures around the state. St. Louis County in northeastern Minnesota saw several days of thermometer readings below minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit.   MPR News host Phil Picardi talked with retired University of Minnesota climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley about the cold, and what to expect this weekend.
After a warmer-than-average January in Minnesota, the other shoe is dropping in February.