Near Two Harbors, 34 structures burned and Highway 61 closed; in Crow Wing County, a 1,600-acre fire sparked evacuations

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The month of May in Minnesota saw both frost and fire. 

The first half of the month started with multiple frosty days and cooler-than-normal temperatures. The last week of May carried well-above-normal temperatures, including many highs at 90 degrees or more, climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley said. 

International Falls set a daily record high of 89 degrees on Monday. 

“Lots of places reported 14 to 18 days with 30 mph or stronger wind gusts, and in some cases, we had even 50 and 60 mph wind gusts,” Seeley said. 

Moisture, too, was short almost statewide, with many places recording “only about half of the average rainfall this month,” he said. 

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The last week of May carried well-above-normal temperatures, including many highs at 90 degrees or more, climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley said. 

Seeley: May marked by stark temperature contrasts, strong winds and drought

A sign warning of very high fire danger stands near Two Harbors 

May in Minnesota marked by stark temperature contrasts, strong winds and drought

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