Celebrating 40

Temperatures soared yesterday from very chilly overnight minimums. Crane Lake had a run up of 47 degrees; surging from a low temperature of 6 below zero to an afternoon high of 41. Aberdeen, South Dakota rocketed from morning readings in the single digits to a maximum of 57.

In the Twin Cities, at daybreak temperatures were above the thawing mark of 32. We only need to nudge the thermometer seven more degrees to reach 40 for the first time since January 28th. Reaching forty is not much of a weather story when the normal high for the date is 38 degrees.

I was checking out the temperatures in Alaska and found that Fairbanks has reached 40 degrees or warmer four days in March. Their average temperature for the month is running thirteen degrees above normal. The 30 year average maximum for March 11 in Fairbanks is only 21 degrees. Compare that with International Falls, who despite climbing to 41 on Monday, has experienced temperatures 14 degrees below normal for the first ten days in March.

Celebrate 40 in Minneapolis/St. Paul; I am!

CE