Cold in Minnesota, January 31, 1996

Name: Cold in Minnesota, January 31, 1996
Start: 1996-01-31T04:00
End: 1996-01-31T23:00
Location: Minnesota

January 31, 1996 · NWS MPX · 49 events in 49 counties and zones

Extremely cold air settled over the area on January 31st, and remained entrenched through February 4th. A new record low temperature for Minnesota was set in the town of Tower on 2/2.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 49 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 49

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MPX wrote it up.

Extremely cold air settled over the area on January 31st, and remained entrenched through February 4th. A new record low temperature for Minnesota was set in the town of Tower on 2/2. Numerous record low temperatures and record low high temperatures were set during the period at St. Cloud, Rochester and the Twin Cities. Minneapolis/St. Paul set three new record low temperatures as well as recording the second coldest day on record on 2/2. A mean temperature of 25 degrees below zero was measured that day with a high of 17 below and a low of 32 degrees below zero. This was within two degrees of tying the all-time record low temperature set in the Twin Cities and the coldest temperature recorded this century. Many central and southern Minnesota locations set new record low temperatures the morning of the 2nd. The governor closed all schools that day.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

49 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Cold/Wind Chill, Douglas

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Douglas forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.934, -95.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Todd

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Todd forecast zone
Coordinates: 46.071, -94.898 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Morrison

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Morrison forecast zone
Coordinates: 46.013, -94.268 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Mille Lacs

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Mille Lacs forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.938, -93.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Kanabec

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Kanabec forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.945, -93.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Stevens

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Stevens forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.586, -96.000 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Pope

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Pope forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.586, -95.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Stearns

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Stearns forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.552, -94.613 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Benton

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Benton forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.699, -93.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Sherburne

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Sherburne forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.444, -93.775 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Isanti

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Isanti forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.562, -93.295 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Chisago

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Chisago forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.503, -92.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Lac Qui Parle

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Lac Qui Parle forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.996, -96.173 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Swift

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Swift forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.283, -95.681 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Chippewa

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Chippewa forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.022, -95.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Kandiyohi

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Kandiyohi forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.152, -95.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Meeker

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Meeker forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.123, -94.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Wright

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.174, -93.963 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Hennepin

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Hennepin forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.005, -93.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Anoka

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Anoka forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.273, -93.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Ramsey

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Ramsey forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.017, -93.100 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Washington

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.039, -92.884 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Yellow Medicine

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Yellow Medicine forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.716, -95.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Renville

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Renville forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.727, -94.947 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, McLeod

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: McLeod forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.824, -94.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Sibley

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Sibley forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.580, -94.232 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Carver

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Carver forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.821, -93.803 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Scott

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Scott forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.649, -93.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Dakota

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Dakota forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.672, -93.065 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Redwood

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Redwood forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.404, -95.254 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Brown

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Brown forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.242, -94.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Nicollet

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Nicollet forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.350, -94.247 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Le Sueur

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Le Sueur forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.371, -93.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Rice

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Rice forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.354, -93.297 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Goodhue

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Goodhue forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.410, -92.723 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Watonwan

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Watonwan forecast zone
Coordinates: 43.978, -94.614 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Blue Earth

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Blue Earth forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.035, -94.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Waseca

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Waseca forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.022, -93.587 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Steele

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Steele forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.022, -93.226 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Martin

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Martin forecast zone
Coordinates: 43.674, -94.551 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Faribault

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Faribault forecast zone
Coordinates: 43.674, -93.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Freeborn

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Freeborn forecast zone
Coordinates: 43.674, -93.349 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Wabasha

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Wabasha forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.284, -92.230 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Dodge

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Dodge forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.023, -92.862 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Olmsted

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Olmsted forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.004, -92.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Winona

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Winona forecast zone
Coordinates: 43.987, -91.779 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Mower

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Mower forecast zone
Coordinates: 43.672, -92.752 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Fillmore

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Fillmore forecast zone
Coordinates: 43.674, -92.090 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Houston

When: January 31, 4:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Houston forecast zone
Coordinates: 43.671, -91.493 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Cold/Wind Chill: Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 1996 Every state in 1996 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, January 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5535380, 5535381, 5535382, 5535383, 5535384, 5535385, 5535386, 5535387, 5535388, 5535389, 5535390, 5535391, 5535392, 5535393, 5535394, 5535395, 5535396, 5535397, 5535398, 5535399, 5535400, 5535401, 5535402, 5535403, 5535404, 5535405, 5535406, 5535407, 5535408, 5535409, 5535410, 5535411, 5535412, 5535413, 5535414, 5535415, 5535416, 5535417, 5535418, 5535419, and more.