Extreme Cold in Minnesota, December 29 to 31, 2017

Name: Extreme Cold in Minnesota, December 29 to 31, 2017
Start: 2017-12-29T22:00
End: 2017-12-31T12:00
Location: Minnesota

December 29 to 31, 2017 · NWS MPX · 28 events in 28 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 28 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 28

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.

The coldest air mass since December 2016 surged southward across the northern part of the nation during the last part of December. Although wind speeds only averaged between 10 to 15 mph, the combination of actual surface temperatures in the teens and 20s below zero, wind chill values dropped below 35 degrees below zero for a wide area of western, southern and central Minnesota. The coldest wind chills occurred in west central Minnesota where values dropped to 45 degrees below zero. There was a small window Saturday afternoon, December 30th where wind chill values rose above -35F; it was temporary as wind speeds increased Saturday night, causing wind chill values to once again fall below -35F. Some of the lowest wind chill values occurred around Morris, Benson, and Alexandria where all these airport stations had average wind chill values between -40 to -45F for part of Saturday and Sunday mornings.

What forecasters said that day

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 Twin Cities, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 29, 10:00 PM CST, 0 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 29, 10:00 PM CST, 0 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1000 PM CST Fri Dec 29 2017

.UPDATE...
Issued at 910 PM CST Fri Dec 29 2017

Temperatures are dropping quickly following the clearing skies.
Readings are already around 10 below across west central MN with
areas across northwest MN already nearing 20 below. Winds will
increase as stronger CAA moves in overnight, so confidence is very
high for expected wind chills through Saturday morning. Areas to
the east are approaching advisory criteria already, so will move
the time of the advisory up and begin it at midnight. Otherwise,
no changes are necessary.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday)
Issued at 245 PM CST Fri Dec 29 2017

It didn't take much for the atmosphere to saturate once again
today as mid level forcing was much stronger than anticipated.
The area of light snow developed in a highly saturated layer
where temperatures were between -20C to -30C. There was enough
moisture in this layer, plus the added lift, to generate a light
dusting of snow around Alexandria to the Twin Cities, and into
west central Wisconsin. Further to the south along the Iowa
border, snowfall amounts were near three inches as a persistent
band of light snow continued for most of today. Regional
satellite imagery also noted the stronger forcing as several bands
of mid level cloudiness was apparent. This area of enhanced
banding had already moved south into far southern Minnesota as of
3 pm. Some enhancement was noted across northern Minnesota as of
3 pm, which may allow for a few flurries to affect eastern
Minnesota and western Wisconsin through the early evening.
Otherwise, the main weather event will be the dangerously cold
wind chill values developing overnight.

Wind speeds have increased across North Dakota this afternoon
with gusts over 20 knots noted as of 3 pm. Afternoon wind chill
values have already fallen into the 25 to 30 below zero range in
northwest Minnesota which will spread southward this evening. By
midnight, expect wind chill values to drop into the 35 to 45 below
zero range in west central Minnesota, and these values will
spread southeast across central and southern Minnesota by morning.
A wind chill warning has been issued for these conditions which
is mainly west of a line from Mora to Mankato, Minnesota. East of
this line, an advisory for wind chill values of 25 to 35 degrees
below zero is expected. Don't expect much in the way of
temperatures rising too much on Saturday as cold air advection
remains over the Upper Midwest.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday night through Friday)
Issued at 315 PM CST Fri Dec 29 2017

Some changes in the extended period as an upper ridge spills over
the Canadian Rockies and moves southeast across the Northern
Plains early next week. This will lead to some modification of
temperatures for Tuesday as highs will climb into the teens above
zero. I wouldn't be surprised to see a few flurries or light snow
develop on the leading edge of the warmer air. However, nothing
too significant.

The core of the coldest airmass aloft will move further to the
east across the Great Lakes, and over the eastern one-thirds of
the nation next week. Thus, it will remain cold for the Upper
Midwest, but not as cold as it will be for this weekend. Even
past late next week, the mean pattern favors near normal temperatures
for January. In addition, do to the strong thermal gradient with
the expected Arctic airmass across the Great Lakes, this could be
a sign that a storm system could develop over the Northern Plains,
or the Upper Midwest. This is of course dependent upon where the
thermal gradient develops, and any weather disturbances riding
southeast along this boundary.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Saturday night)
Issued at 1000 PM CST Fri Dec 29 2017

VFR conditions and northwest winds around between 8-13 kts
expected through the period.

KMSP...No concerns.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
Sun...VFR. Wind NW 10 kts.
Mon...VFR. Wind NW 5-10 kts.
Tue...VFR. Wind SW 10 kts.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...Wind Chill Advisory until noon CST Sunday for WIZ014>016-023>028.

MN...Wind Chill Advisory until noon CST Sunday for MNZ045-052-053-
     060>063-068>070-076>078-084-085-093.

     Wind Chill Warning until noon CST Sunday for MNZ041-042-047-048-
     054>056.

     Wind Chill Warning until noon CST Sunday for MNZ043-044-049>051-
     057>059-064>067-073>075-082-083-091-092.

&&

UPDATE...BORGHOFF
SHORT TERM...JLT
LONG TERM...JLT
AVIATION...BORGHOFF

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 29, 9:23 PM CST, 37 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
923 PM CST Fri Dec 29 2017

MNZ041>044-047>051-054>059-064>067-073>075-082-083-091-092-310330-
Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Stevens-Pope-Stearns-Benton-
Sherburne-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-Meeker-Wright-
Yellow Medicine-Renville-McLeod-Sibley-Redwood-Brown-Nicollet-
Watonwan-Blue Earth-Martin-Faribault-
923 PM CST Fri Dec 29 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central
Minnesota...east central Minnesota...south central Minnesota...
southwest Minnesota and west central Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

A Wind Chill Warning is in effect. Wind chill values will drop to
between 35 and 45 degrees below zero late tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

A Wind Chill Warning continues through Sunday morning. Wind
chills each morning may drop into the 35 to 45 below zero range,
with high temperatures Saturday and Sunday remaining below zero.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation will not be needed.

MNZ045-052-053-060>063-068>070-076>078-084-085-093-WIZ014>016-
023>028-310330-
Kanabec-Isanti-Chisago-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Carver-
Scott-Dakota-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Waseca-Steele-Freeborn-Polk-
Barron-Rusk-St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Chippewa-Eau Claire-
923 PM CST Fri Dec 29 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of east central
Minnesota...south central Minnesota...southeast Minnesota...
northwest Wisconsin and west central Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect. Wind chill values will drop
to between 25 and 40 degrees below zero late tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

A Wind Chill Advisory continues through Sunday morning. Wind
chills each morning may drop into the 25 to 40 below zero range,
with high temperatures Saturday and Sunday remaining below zero.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation will not be needed.

Borghoff

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 29, 5:40 PM CST, 4 hours 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
540 PM CST FRI DEC 29 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0300 PM     SNOW             1 WSW AMBOY             43.88N 94.17W
12/29/2017  M3.0 INCH        BLUE EARTH         MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0100 PM     SNOW             1 WNW WELLS             43.75N 93.74W
12/29/2017  M3.0 INCH        FARIBAULT          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0100 PM     SNOW             1 SSE BLUE EARTH        43.62N 94.10W
12/29/2017  M2.9 INCH        FARIBAULT          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            UPDATED.

0111 PM     SNOW             WINNEBAGO               43.76N 94.17W
12/29/2017  M2.8 INCH        FARIBAULT          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0131 PM     SNOW             FAIRMONT                43.65N 94.46W
12/29/2017  M2.5 INCH        MARTIN             MN   POST OFFICE

            REPORTED AT FAIRMONT, MN.

0128 PM     SNOW             1 ENE ST. JAMES         43.99N 94.61W
12/29/2017  M2.5 INCH        WATONWAN           MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0120 PM     SNOW             ALBERT LEA              43.65N 93.37W
12/29/2017  M2.0 INCH        FREEBORN           MN   POST OFFICE

            REPORTED AT ALBERT LEA, MN.

0210 PM     SNOW             1 S MANKATO             44.15N 93.99W
12/29/2017  M1.5 INCH        BLUE EARTH         MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

0200 PM     SNOW             WINTHROP                44.54N 94.36W
12/29/2017  M1.2 INCH        SIBLEY             MN   PUBLIC

0135 PM     SNOW             LAKE CRYSTAL            44.11N 94.22W
12/29/2017  M1.0 INCH        BLUE EARTH         MN   PUBLIC

            REPORTED AT LAKE CRYSTAL, MN.

0120 PM     SNOW             OWATONNA                44.09N 93.23W
12/29/2017  M1.0 INCH        STEELE             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0124 PM     SNOW             1 WSW WASECA            44.07N 93.53W
12/29/2017  M1.0 INCH        WASECA             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

&&

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

28 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Todd

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 31, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Todd forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 46.071, -94.898 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several sources reported wind chill values averaging around 40 degrees below zero which started late Friday evening, and continued through Saturday and Sunday morning. The worst conditions occurred Saturday morning when wind speeds combined with cold lows to produced wind chill values around -45F.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Douglas

When: December 29, 11:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Douglas forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 45.934, -95.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several sources reported wind chill values averaging around 40 degrees below zero which started late Friday evening, and continued through Saturday and Sunday morning. The worst conditions occurred both Saturday and Sunday morning when wind speeds combined with cold lows to produced wind chill values around -44F.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Stevens

When: December 29, 11:00 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Stevens forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 45.586, -96.000 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Pope

When: December 29, 11:30 PM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Pope forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 45.586, -95.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several sources reported wind chill values averaging around 40 degrees below zero which started late Friday evening, and continued through Saturday and Sunday morning. The worst conditions occurred both Saturday and Sunday morning when wind speeds combined with cold lows to produced wind chill values around -45F.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Swift

When: December 30, 12:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Swift forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 45.283, -95.681 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several sources reported wind chill values averaging around 40 degrees below zero which started early Saturday morning, and continued through Saturday and Sunday morning. The worst conditions occurred Sunday morning when wind speeds combined with cold lows to produced wind chill values around -43F.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Chippewa

When: December 30, 1:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Chippewa forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 45.022, -95.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lac Qui Parle

When: December 30, 1:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Lac Qui Parle forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 44.996, -96.173 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Stearns

When: December 30, 1:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Stearns forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 45.552, -94.613 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Benton

When: December 30, 3:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Benton forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 45.699, -93.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Kandiyohi

When: December 30, 3:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Kandiyohi forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 45.152, -95.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Sherburne

When: December 30, 3:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Sherburne forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 45.444, -93.775 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Yellow Medicine

When: December 30, 3:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Yellow Medicine forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 44.716, -95.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Mille Lacs

When: December 30, 3:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Mille Lacs forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 45.938, -93.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several sources reported wind chill values averaging around 35 degrees below zero which started early Saturday morning, and continued through Saturday and Sunday morning. The worst conditions occurred Saturday morning when wind speeds combined with cold lows to produced wind chill values around -40F.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Brown

When: December 30, 4:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Brown forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 44.242, -94.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several sources reported wind chill values averaging between 35 to 40 degrees below zero which started early Saturday morning, and continued through Saturday and Sunday morning. The worst conditions occurred Sunday morning when wind speeds combined with cold lows to produced wind chill values around -41F.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, McLeod

When: December 30, 4:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: McLeod forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 44.824, -94.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Meeker

When: December 30, 4:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Meeker forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 45.123, -94.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Morrison

When: December 30, 4:00 AM CST to December 31, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Morrison forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 46.013, -94.268 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several sources reported wind chill values averaging 35 to 40 degrees below zero which started early Saturday morning, and continued through Saturday and Sunday morning. The worst conditions occurred Sunday morning when wind speeds combined with cold lows to produced wind chill values around -39F.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Nicollet

When: December 30, 4:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Nicollet forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 44.350, -94.247 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Redwood

When: December 30, 4:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Redwood forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 44.404, -95.254 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Renville

When: December 30, 4:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Renville forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 44.727, -94.947 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Sibley

When: December 30, 4:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Sibley forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 44.580, -94.232 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several sources reported wind chill values averaging around 35 degrees below zero which started early Saturday morning, and continued through Saturday and Sunday morning. The worst conditions occurred Sunday morning when wind speeds combined with cold lows to produced wind chill values around -36F.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Watonwan

When: December 30, 5:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Watonwan forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 43.978, -94.614 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Blue Earth

When: December 30, 6:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Blue Earth forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 44.035, -94.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Faribault

When: December 30, 6:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where: Faribault forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 43.674, -93.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several sources reported wind chill values averaging around 35 degrees below zero which occurred Saturday morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Freeborn

When: December 30, 6:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where: Freeborn forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 43.674, -93.349 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several sources reported wind chill values averaging around 35 degrees below zero which occurred Saturday morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Martin

When: December 30, 6:00 AM CST to December 31, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Martin forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 43.674, -94.551 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Waseca

When: December 30, 6:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where: Waseca forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 44.022, -93.587 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several sources reported wind chill values averaging around 35 degrees below zero which occurred Saturday morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Wright

When: December 31, 4:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 45.174, -93.963 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several sources reported wind chill values averaging between 35 to 40 degrees below zero Sunday morning.

What these are

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: Temperatures or wind chills at or below the local warning criteria, or cold that caused deaths.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 2017 Every state in 2017 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, December 2017

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: 726374, 726345, 726372, 726366, 726373, 726344, 726349, 726371, 726341, 726348, 726369, 726375, 726379, 726343, 726351, 726363, 726364, 726365, 726367, 726368, 726370, 726376, 726342, 726346, 726347, 726350, 726377, 726378.