Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

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

Thursday reminds us that Minnesota sits in the land of free-flowing air masses. With no mountains or modifying oceans nearby, air masses sweep freely across the Upper Midwest. When weather systems wind up in these parts, there are no real geographic barriers to stop the wind.

Thursday’s winds are the result of rapid pressure changes across Minnesota. A deepening low-pressure center and strengthening high are sweeping across the region Thursday. The result is a tightening pressure gradient driving high winds across Minnesota.

Wind gusts across northern Minnesota exceeded 50 mph at ground level. But winds were even higher just a few thousand feet above ground level. Check out this assessment form the Duluth National Weather Service Doppler radar image.

Wind gusts reached 57 mph on the Baltnik Bridge near Duluth, Minn. Severe thunderstorm criteria is wind gusts of 58 mph.

Winds gusted to 55 mph in the Twin Cities at Crystal Airport, and 51 mph in St. Cloud, Minn.

Winds will ease after sunset as the pressure gradient relaxes.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Highs winds produced gusts over 50 mph in parts of Minnesota Thursday.

The gales of September: Wind gusts near severe strength recorded

Go Deeper.

Like this?