Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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That’s a question I get a lot this time of year.

And it’s a good question since we’re actually approaching the average date of the first 32-degree temperatures in the Twin Cities area.

Freezing temperatures have already occurred at several northern Minnesota locations. And it’s pretty typical to get frost up north in September. 

Here’s a look at the average dates for the first 32-degree temperature in fall across Minnesota:

Here’s a wider look at the average first 32-degree temperatures around the Midwest:

Twin Cities approaching the average first 32-degree temperature

Weather records at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport show the long-term average for the first 32-degree temperature in fall is about Oct. 8. Thanks to the urban heat island, most Twin Cities suburbs typically see the first frost earlier than the airport and downtown urban core of the Twin Cities.

2016 the first 32-degree temperature did not arrive until Nov. 18.

 That’s the latest on record and the longest growing season on record in the Twin Cities area. Here’s more on that record year from the Minnesota DNR Climate Working Group:

Looking at the weather maps, I don’t see any real chance of freezing temperatures for the Twin Cities for at least the next one to two weeks. The coldest temperatures in the next week for Minnesota arrive next Monday morning with lows in the 40s (and some isolated 30s) up north to near 50 in the Twin Cities. 

At this point, the coldest temperature the forecast models are cranking out so far for the Twin Cities is in the lower 40s around Oct. 16. 

As of today, it appears our first 32-degree temperature in the Twin Cities area will come later than the longer-term average date of around Oct. 8. And looking at the maps today, it could be at least late October before we see freezing temperatures in the Twin Cities.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Frost has already occurred this season in northern Minnesota. 

Paul Huttner | MPR News

Median date of first 32 degree temperature in fall

Any signs of the first frost for the Twin Cities?

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