Why did Duluth’s temp drop 27 degrees in minutes? Watch the wind
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Something odd happened on the shore of Lake Superior Sunday: The temperature dropped 27 degrees in just 21 minutes.
The temperature was 81 degrees at 2:53 p.m., and it dropped to 54 degrees at 3:14 p.m., according to measurements at Sky Harbor Airport in Duluth:
A cold front was wiggling through northeastern Minnesota Sunday afternoon, and the winds shifted from west on the 2:53 p.m. reading (14:53 on the chart) to northeast on the 3:14 p.m. observation.
Sky Harbor Airport is located on Minnesota Point in Duluth, very close to Lake Superior:
When winds shift and start to come in off of the lake, temps can take a big drop in Duluth and along the north shore of Lake Superior.
The most impressive temperature change in U.S. weather records occurred on January 22, 1943 in Spearfish, S.D.
The temperature rose 49 degrees in just two minutes in Spearfish that day. A couple hours later, it dropped 58 degrees in 27 minutes.
Turn Up Your Support
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.
Dear reader,
Your voice matters. And we want to hear it.
Will you help shape the future of Minnesota Public Radio by taking our short Listener Survey?
It only takes a few minutes, and your input helps us serve you better—whether it’s news, culture, or the conversations that matter most to Minnesotans.
