It’s been a few weeks since we’ve felt it, but we’re dealing with a taste of some cold arctic air today in the wake of a potent cold front that has swung through the Upper Mississippi Valley.  Temperatures are slowly dropping off today and will continue to fall through the next 24 hours or so with some subzero readings likely by late tonight.  Winds will continue to be a major factor in our weather for the next couple of days with gusts still occasionally reaching 25 to 30 miles per hour this afternoon and then in the 15 to 20 mile per hour range overnight tonight and through much of tomorrow, so be sure to plan on wearing the thick coat, hat, and mittens to avoid frostbite.  We’ll have lows tonight near -5° for much of the area tonight with some spots as cold as -10° and wind chills will hover around -20.  Sunshine will be the rule under our approaching broad area of arctic high pressure, but temperatures will be slow to improve.  Highs Saturday will be in the teens with mid 20s in store for Sunday.

It will be cold Friday night, but we haven't had very many of these frigid nights this winter. We're far below the average for climate standards this winter.

The longer term still looks pretty mild with upper 20s and mid 30s in store for next week with just a couple of light snow or flurries in the area.

Posted under winter weather

It’s been quite a while since we’ve dealt with the brutally cold conditions that are now plaguing the region and it looks like we’ll have this frigid stuff in the area for the remainder of the week, so we’ll have to brace ourselves and do our best to survive.  A strong, arctic cold front is on its way from the northwest today and is expected to bring a light dusting of snow to the local area early in the evening and then usher in some unbelievably cold air for the next couple of days.  The coldest night of the season is ahead of us tonight as low temperatures will be close to minus 10 and gusty northwest winds behind that front will make it feel like it’s as cold as minus 30 at times after midnight tonight through the middle of the morning tomorrow.  A Wind Chill Advisory has been posted for much of the area because of the potential for frost bite in this situation especially for those exposed to the elements for longer periods of time.  Be sure to wear layers, cover up the head and hands with hats and gloves and keep the pets inside as much as possible during this brutal cold snap.

Wind chills will be as cold as -30 early Thursday morning and will only climb above -20 around the midday hours. High temperatures tomorrow will be around zero.

Another storm system will move in for Friday and because of the rather cold temperatures we’ll be experiencing, we’ll have a steeper ratio of moisture to snowfall meaning fluffier snow will fall and it will add up a little more quickly.  Totals will be higher as a result.  Right now, it appears that we’ll be shoveling up to 6 or 7 inches of fresh snowfall by Friday evening with this next storm system moves out.  Temperatures will moderate a little over the weekend with lower 30s possible by Sunday.

Posted under Cold

While we’re thankful for a drier outlook today in the wake of Wednesday’s ice storm, we’re dealing with some downright frigid weather for our Thanksgiving Day.  We’ll have to battle some raw, blustery west winds that will occasionally gust beyond 25 miles per hour, creating wind chills in the -5 range while daytime high temperatures will be around 20° below normal with mid teens expected in most spots locally.  It’s going to be the coldest Thanksiving in more than 20 years in Rochester for us.  The last time we didn’t get past 20° in the afternoon for Thanksgiving was in 1989 and the last time the afternoon high didn’t get past 15° was in 1985, so it certainly has been quite a while since we’ve experienced this type of cold for Turkey Day. 

Here’s a look at what else the National Weather Service in La Crosse has in its Thanksgiving record books for our area:

Rochester, MN:

The following statistics comprise 113 years of data. From 1886 through 1931, the data came from several cooperative observers in the Rochester area. Since 1932, the data has been gathered at Rochester International Airport. No data was taken on Thanksgiving Day from 1889 to 1891, 1901, 1908, from 1921 to 1927, and 1933.

The odds of having any precipitation on Thanksgiving Day is 50.5% (50 out of 99).  There has been measurable (0.01″ or greater) precipitation on 28 Thanksgiving Days and trace amounts (less than 0.01″) of precipitation on 22. Since 1928, it has snowed on 33 out of 82 (40.2%) Thanksgiving Days.  Measurable snow (0.1″ or greater) has fallen on 17 Thanksgiving Days. The last time this occurred was in 1993 when 3.7 inches of snow fell. This was also the snowiest Thanksgiving in Rochester.  The last time there was any snow at all on Thanksgiving was a trace back in 2007.  Since 1933, residents have woken up with measurable snow (half inch or greater) on the ground 23 times and trace amounts (less than a half inch) 11 times.  The last time there was any snow at all on the ground on a Thanksgiving morning was back in 2003 when there was a trace.  The last time measurable snow was on the ground on Thanksgiving morning was back in 2000 when there was an inch.

Posted under history, Holidays

Temps this morning are at or slightly below zero, and south winds will lend an extra chill to the air (surprise, surprise?). Wind chills roughly -5 to – 15 will be common through the morning hours. Even as our highs press into the teens during the afternoon, the wind will keep it feeling in the single digits.

Beyond today, there are a few chances for flurries late Thursday/Friday/Saturday, and then as Randy mentioned in his last post, everything gets jumbly into next week yet. So sit tight, bundle up, drink hot stuff, and keep it cool, all…not literally….

Posted under KTTC

While you’re sipping your favorite warm beverage, pondering over what a good read would be this midday, why not select the snowmageddon ’09 storm summary from the NWS in La Crosse?

Wind Chill Advisory has been allowed to expire, but wind chills will still be sub-zero for the rest of the day. Brr!

Earlier…

Stay warm! Temperatures have dipped well below zero this morning and wind chills are about -20° to -30°. We are all under a Wind Chill Advisory until 11 AM Thursday.

Now that we are past the big ‘ol blizzard (who’s still shoveling?), please take a moment to participate in the Post Storm Survey. It’s an ongoing project designed to get feedback on how you perceived you were warned about the latest winter storm. It’s feedback to the National Weather Service and us media folks to find out what we’re doing right and even wrong when we convey watches/warnings/etc. to the public, i.e. YOU!

Posted under winter weather

When was the last time it was this cold?  Here’s a graphic that shows the last few times Rochester’s low was -20° or colder.

Click on the image for a larger version.

Thanks to Jessica at the NWS in La Crosse – she dug up the days we dipped to -20° or colder during the 1990′s.

December 1990

23rd :    -24°
26th :    -26°

January 1994

15th :    -27°
17th :    -24°
18th :    -29°
19th :    -26°
20th :    -24°
31st :    -25°

January 1996

31st :   -24°

February 1996

1st :   -27°
2nd :   -35°  (also this day the high was only -20°)
3rd :   -30°  (high of -15°)

Wondering what the modern-day wind chill is compared to the old school wind chill?  Check out this site.

Posted under winter weather

7:15 a.m. update: Blizzard Warnings are in effect for most of northern Iowa from this afternoon until 3 am Tuesday. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect first, until early afternoon.

Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for most of northeastern Iowa, southeastern and south central Minnesota from 9 am to Midnight.

Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for all other counties in the viewing area until Midnight.

Wind Chill Advisories will also go into effect later tonight for the entire area.

Snow will spread into the area from west to east this morning; 2-4″ are likely. Conditions will turn sour this afternoon with winds gusting to 40 mph, creating white-out conditions in some areas, and wind chills will drop to -30 to -40. Definitely check road conditions before you have to head out anywhere this evening.

More to come…

Posted under KTTC, weather, winter weather