A 95 year old man died of hypothermia after locking himself out of his residence. The temperature that evening was -1 F at 9:00 pm and fell to -6 F by midnight.
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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.
The episode as NWS DLH wrote it up.
A 95 year old man died of hypothermia after locking himself out of his residence. The temperature that evening was -1 F at 9:00 pm and fell to -6 F by midnight.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Duluth, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 17, 8:25 PM CST, 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 825 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 .UPDATE...HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE RED RIVER VALLEY IS ERODING AWAY THE CLOUDS AS THEY TRY TO PROGRESS E. HAVE ADJUSTED THE SKY GRIDS TO SLOW ONSET OF CLOUD COVER. THE SNOW HAS ENDED IN NW WI AND HAVE REMOVED. THE REST OF THE FORECAST IS ON TRACK. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 533 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012/ AVIATION...00Z TAFS. VFR THROUGH 10Z. AFTER 10Z, LOOK FOR MVFR CIGS TO BEGIN TO SPREAD ACROSS THE TAF SITES AHEAD OF A SFC LOW MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND INTO WEST CENTRAL MN BY 18Z. EXPECT -SN TO DEVELOP ON THE NORTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE LOW ACROSS NORTHERN MN WEDNESDAY MORNING, THEN OVERSPREAD THE REST OF THE FA THROUGH THE DAY BUT NO REACH KHYR UNTIL 21Z. MVFR VSBYS WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH MUCH OF THE -SN WITH IFR CIGS/VSBYS AT KINL BY 19Z. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 321 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012/ SHORT TERM...LATEST REGIONAL SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS A DEPARTING LOW PRESSURE OVER THE ERN GREAT LAKES AND A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE ERN PLAINS. NORTHWEST WINDS COMBINED WITH THE VERY COLD AIR ASSOCIATED WITH THE RIDGE HAS RESULTED IN FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT LAKE EFFECT SNOW ACROSS THE GOGEBIC RANGE OVER THE LAST 12 HOURS OR SO...WITH LESSER AMOUNTS ACROSS THE BAYFIELD PENINSULA. THE LAKE EFFECT SHOULD TAPER OF TO SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS OR FLURRIES LATE THIS AFTERNOON AS WINDS BACK OUT OF THE WEST AND AS MOISTURE DECREASES IN THE BOUNDARY LAYER. THEREFORE WE WILL CANCEL THE LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING EARLY BY 4PM. A QUICK MOVING CLIPPER SYSTEM FROM THE NRN PLAINS IS PROGGED TO TRACK EWD ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. WINDS WILL BACK OUT OF THE SOUTH BY WEDNESDAY MORNING IN RESPONSE TO THE APPROACHING SHORTWAVE...CAUSING ANY LAKE EFFECT SNOW TO MOVE OVER THE NORTH SHORE WHERE AT LEAST A COUPLE OF INCHES OF LAKE EFFECT SNOW COULD FALL WEDNESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING. THE SYNOPTICALLY FORCED SNOW WILL FIRST DEVELOP ACROSS OUR NWRN ZONES LATE TONIGHT AND SPREAD EWD ACROSS THE REST OF OUR NRN ZONES ON WEDNESDAY. SOUTH OF US HWY 2...THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW...BUT ATTM CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO MENTION SNOW ACCUMULATION. THE SNOW WILL TAPER OFF FROM WEST TO EAST WEDNESDAY EVENING WITH ONLY SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS LINGERING ACROSS OUR ERN ZONES BY MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT. LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL TRANSITION TO THE SOUTH SHORE AGAIN AS WINDS TURN OUT OF THE NORTHWEST AFTER THE LOW MOVES THROUGH. THE NORTHERLY WINDS WILL ALSO DRAW COLDER AIR SOUTH ACROSS THE CWA WEDNESDAY NIGHT...WITH BELOW ZERO LOW TEMPS EXPECTED THURSDAY MORNING. WITH WIND SPEEDS BETWEEN 10 TO 20 MPH ACROSS MUCH OF THE CWA DURING THE SAME TIME FRAME...WIND CHILL TEMPS WILL RANGE FROM 25 TO 40 BELOW ZERO. AS A RESULT...WE WILL ISSUE A SPS TO HIGHLIGHT THIS HAZARD. LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THE COLD SNAP THURS IS EXPECTED TO BE SHORT-LIVED AS THE LOW EXITS OVER ONTARIO AND H85 TEMPS MODERATE. SFC HIGH PRESSURE WILL SLIDE EAST OVER SRN MN/WI THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE H50 FLOW BECOMES ZONAL. THE AMOUNT OF CLEARING THURSDAY NIGHT WITH THE SFC RIDGE WILL DETERMINE IF LOWS CAN FALL FOR A SECOND NIGHT INTO THE NEGATIVE TEENS TO 20S. HOWEVER...WINDS WILL BE LIGHT SO APPARENT T/WIND CHILL VALUES WILL BE WARMER THAN THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. ALTHOUGH MODELS ARE SHOWING LARGE DIFFERENCES IN TRACK...THERE IS SOME AGREEMENT THAT A H85 TROUGH MOVES OUT OF THE ROCKIES AND ACROSS THE UPPER PLAINS FRIDAY. THE LATEST NAM SHOWS A STRONGER BAROCLINIC ZONE AND MUCH FURTHER NORTH STRONG TRACK...BRINGING THE NRN EDGE OF THE ACCUMULATING SNOW INTO THE SOUTHERN ZONES. THE 12Z ECMWF HOWEVER KEEPS THE BEST FORCING AND SNOW AMOUNTS OVER FAR SOUTHERN MN AND WIS. ATTM...HAVE KEEP CHC POPS ACROSS SRN HALF OF FA FRIDAY. LONG TERM MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT THAT H50 TEMPS WARM AROUND THE ZERO MARK THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH A PUSH OF WAA AHEAD OF A SERIES OF SHORT WAVES THAT TRANSLATE OVER THE REGION. HAVE SMALL POPS FOR MOST PERIODS THROUGHOUT EXTENDED WITH VERY LITTLE CONFIDENCE DUE TO SIGNIFICANT MODEL DIFFERENCES AND RUN-TO-RUN DISCONTINUITY. && .POINT TEMPS/POPS... DLH -3 17 -8 1 / 10 40 40 0 INL -12 5 -18 -4 / 40 60 20 0 BRD -4 18 -13 0 / 10 30 10 0 HYR -2 19 -7 1 / 10 20 50 10 ASX 2 20 -2 3 / 10 30 60 30 && .DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...NONE. WI...NONE. LS...NONE. && SHORT TERM...GSF
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 416 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038-WIZ001>004-006>009-181130- KOOCHICHING-NORTHERN ST. LOUIS-NORTHERN COOK/NORTHERN LAKE- NORTHERN ITASCA-CENTRAL ST. LOUIS-SOUTHERN LAKE/LAKESHORE- SOUTHERN COOK/LAKESHORE-NORTHERN CASS-SOUTHERN ITASCA- SOUTHERN CASS-CROW WING-NORTHERN AITKIN-SOUTHERN AITKIN- CARLTON/SOUTHERN ST. LOUIS-PINE-DOUGLAS-BAYFIELD-ASHLAND-IRON- BURNETT-WASHBURN-SAWYER-PRICE- 416 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED TO QUICKLY SPREAD SOUTH AND EAST OVER THE REGION WEDNESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING. ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE EXPECTED. A SHORT PERIOD OF LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL BRING LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ALONG THE ELEVATED TERRAIN OF LAKE AND COOK COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA...AS WELL AS ASHLAND AND IRON COUNTIES OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN. THE NORTHLAND WILL SEE HAZARDOUS WIND CHILL VALUES OF NEGATIVE 20 TO 40 DEGREES WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE THURSDAY MORNING. THE COLDEST READINGS WILL BE FOUND ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON OR TONIGHT. LSZ121-140>148-181130- BAYFIELD TO OAK POINT WI-GRAND PORTAGE TO GRAND MARAIS MN- GRAND MARAIS TO TACONITE HARBOR MN- TACONITE HARBOR TO SILVER BAY HARBOR MN- SILVER BAY HARBOR TO TWO HARBORS MN-TWO HARBORS TO DULUTH MN- DULUTH MN TO PORT WING WI-PORT WING TO SAND ISLAND WI- SAND ISLAND TO BAYFIELD WI-OAK POINT TO SAXON HARBOR WI- 416 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP OVER WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE COMBINATION OF THE WINDS AND RESULTING WAVES COULD DEVELOP HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR SMALL CRAFT FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH SHORES. BERDES MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB ADDRESS: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/DULUTH (ALL LOWER CASE)
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
324 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0303 PM SNOW SAXON 46.49N 90.42W
01/17/2012 M6.1 INCH IRON WI CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
GRANINGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
328 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0328 PM SNOW GILE 46.43N 90.23W
01/17/2012 E5.0 INCH IRON WI CO-OP OBSERVER
STILL SNOWING
&&
GRANINGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 403 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038-181000- KOOCHICHING-NORTHERN ST. LOUIS-NORTHERN COOK/NORTHERN LAKE- NORTHERN ITASCA-CENTRAL ST. LOUIS-SOUTHERN LAKE/LAKESHORE- SOUTHERN COOK/LAKESHORE-NORTHERN CASS-SOUTHERN ITASCA- SOUTHERN CASS-CROW WING-NORTHERN AITKIN-SOUTHERN AITKIN- CARLTON/SOUTHERN ST. LOUIS-PINE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...INTERNATIONAL FALLS...ELY...ISABELLA... BIGFORK...HIBBING...TWO HARBORS...GRAND MARAIS...WALKER... GRAND RAPIDS...PINE RIVER...BRAINERD...HILL CITY...AITKIN... DULUTH...CLOQUET...HINCKLEY 403 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ...VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND WIND CHILLS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING... A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL TRACK EASTWARD ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY EVENING. AFTER THE THE DISTURBANCE MOVES EAST OF THE NORTHLAND...WINDS WILL TURN OUT OF THE NORTHWEST...DRAWING MUCH COLDER AIR SOUTH ACROSS THE REGION. THE COMBINATION OF NORTHWEST WINDS AND VERY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN WIND CHILL VALUES OF 25 TO 40 BELOW ZERO LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING...BE SURE TO COVER ALL EXPOSED FLESH AS ANY EXPOSED FLESH CAN FREEZE IN 15 TO 25 MINUTES WITH WIND CHILL VALUES FROM 25 BELOW TO 40 BELOW. THIS MAY RESULT IN FROST BITE AND HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. WIZ001>004-006>009-181000- DOUGLAS-BAYFIELD-ASHLAND-IRON-BURNETT-WASHBURN-SAWYER-PRICE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SUPERIOR...WASHBURN...ASHLAND... HURLEY...GRANTSBURG...SPOONER...HAYWARD...PHILLIPS 403 PM CST TUE JAN 17 2012 ...VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND WIND CHILLS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING... A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL TRACK EASTWARD ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY EVENING. AFTER THE THE DISTURBANCE MOVES EAST OF THE NORTHLAND...WINDS WILL TURN OUT OF THE NORTHWEST...DRAWING MUCH COLDER AIR SOUTH ACROSS THE REGION. THE COMBINATION OF NORTHWEST WINDS AND VERY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN WIND CHILL VALUES OF 20 TO 30 BELOW ZERO LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING ACROSS NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING...BE SURE TO COVER ALL EXPOSED FLESH AS ANY EXPOSED FLESH CAN FREEZE IN 20 TO 30 MINUTES WITH WIND CHILL VALUES FROM 20 BELOW TO 30 BELOW. THIS MAY RESULT IN FROST BITE AND HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. BERDES
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold/Wind Chill, Southern St. Louis / Carlton | 2012-01-17 | 95 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, January 2012
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: 357198.