Minnesota, 2025

Extreme Cold and Cold in Minnesota, February 17 to 19, 2025

February 17 to 19, 2025 · NWS MPX · 42 events in 42 counties and zones

A series of cold fronts brought a frigid Canadian air mass and breezy northwest winds from the night of February 16 to the morning of February 19. This was the second stretch of dangerously cold air for the region this winter with temperatures into the -10s to -30s F, and wind chill temperatures between -30 and -50 F from late on the 16th through the morning of the 19th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 42 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
42

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.

A series of cold fronts brought a frigid Canadian air mass and breezy northwest winds from the night of February 16 to the morning of February 19. This was the second stretch of dangerously cold air for the region this winter with temperatures into the -10s to -30s F, and wind chill temperatures between -30 and -50 F from late on the 16th through the morning of the 19th.

The coldest conditions persisted the longest for portions of west-central MN, with Glenwood Municipal Airport recording the lowest wind chill (-47F) on the morning of February 17.

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 Feb 16, 10:58 PM CST, 3 hours 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 16, 10:58 PM CST, 3 hours 2 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 16, 6:06 PM CST, 7 hours 54 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

35 extreme cold/wind chill, 7 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Douglas

When
February 17, 2:00 AM CST to February 19, 8:00 AM CST
Where
Douglas forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
45.934, -95.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -45 to -40 observed at KAXN each morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Stevens

When
February 17, 2:00 AM CST to February 19, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Stevens forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.586, -96.000 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -45 to -40 observed at KMOX each morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Pope

When
February 17, 2:00 AM CST to February 18, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Pope forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.586, -95.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -47 to -40 observed at KGHW each morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Watonwan

When
February 17, 3:00 AM CST to February 19, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Watonwan forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
43.978, -94.614 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -40 to -35 observed at KJYG each morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Hennepin

When
February 17, 3:00 AM CST to February 18, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Hennepin forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
45.005, -93.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -37 to -35 observed at KMSP and KMIC each morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Ramsey

When
February 17, 3:00 AM CST to February 18, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Ramsey forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
45.017, -93.100 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -37 to -35 observed at KSTP each morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Dakota

When
February 17, 3:00 AM CST to February 18, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Dakota forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
44.672, -93.065 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -38 to -35 observed at KLVN each morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Washington

When
February 17, 3:00 AM CST to February 18, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.039, -92.884 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -37 to -35 each morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Brown

When
February 17, 3:00 AM CST to February 18, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Brown forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
44.242, -94.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -38 to -35 observed at KULM each morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Martin

When
February 17, 3:00 AM CST to February 18, 8:00 AM CST
Where
Martin forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
43.674, -94.551 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -38 to -35 observed at KFRM each morning. Also, the wind chill dropped to -41 during the morning of the 18th at the MNDOT RWIS site near Welcome.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Blue Earth

When
February 17, 3:00 AM CST to February 18, 8:00 AM CST
Where
Blue Earth forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
44.035, -94.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -37 to -35 observed at KMKT each morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Steele

When
February 17, 3:00 AM CST to February 18, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Steele forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
44.022, -93.226 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -39 to -35 observed at KOWA each morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Swift

When
February 17, 4:00 AM CST to February 18, 8:00 AM CST
Where
Swift forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.283, -95.681 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -44 to -40 observed at KBBB each morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Kandiyohi

When
February 17, 4:00 AM CST to February 19, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Kandiyohi forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.152, -95.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -44 to -40 observed at KBDH each morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Stearns

When
February 17, 4:00 AM CST to February 18, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Stearns forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.552, -94.613 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several hours with wind chill ranging from -43 to -40 observed at KPEX and KD39 each morning.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Goodhue

When
February 17, 5:00 AM CST to February 18, 8:00 AM CST
Where
Goodhue forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
44.410, -92.723 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A few hours with wind chill below -35 observed at KSYN each morning. Also, the wind chill dropped to -38 during the morning at the MNDOT RWIS sites near Red Wing and Zumbrota.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Sherburne

When
February 17, 5:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Sherburne forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
45.444, -93.775 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A few hours with wind chill below -40 observed at KSTC.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Waseca

When
February 17, 6:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Waseca forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
44.022, -93.587 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A couple hours with wind chill below -35 observed at KACQ.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Kanabec

When
February 17, 6:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Kanabec forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.945, -93.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A couple hours with wind chill below -40 observed at KJRM.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Chippewa

When
February 17, 7:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Chippewa forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.022, -95.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A couple hours with wind chill below -40 observed at KMVE.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Meeker

When
February 17, 7:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Meeker forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.123, -94.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A couple hours with wind chill below -40 observed at KLJF.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Freeborn

When
February 18, 2:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Freeborn forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
43.674, -93.349 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A few hours with wind chill below -35 observed at KAEL.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Faribault

When
February 18, 2:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Faribault forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
43.674, -93.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -38 during the morning at the MNDOT RWIS site near Wells and -37 during the morning at the MNDOT RWIS site near Blue Earth.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Scott

When
February 18, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Scott forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.649, -93.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -37 during the morning at the MNDOT RWIS site near New Prague and -36 during the morning at the MNDOT RWIS site several miles southwest of Belle Plaine.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Le Sueur

When
February 18, 2:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Le Sueur forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.371, -93.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -37 during the morning at the MNDOT RWIS site near New Prague, which is along the border of Scott and Le Sueur Counties.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Carver

When
February 18, 3:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Carver forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.821, -93.803 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -40 during the morning at the MNDOT RWIS site near New Germany and -35 during the morning at the MNDOT RWIS site near Mayer.

Cold/Wind Chill, Todd

When
February 18, 3:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Todd forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.071, -94.898 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -38 at the MNDOT RWIS site near Clarissa.

Cold/Wind Chill, Wright

When
February 18, 3:00 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)

The wind chill dropped to -37 at the Buffalo airport KFCE.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Rice

When
February 18, 4:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Rice forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.354, -93.297 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -44 during the morning at the MNDOT RWIS site near Little Chicago.

Cold/Wind Chill, Mille Lacs

When
February 18, 4:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Mille Lacs forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.938, -93.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -39 at the MNDOT RWIS site near Isle and -36 at the Princeton airport KPNM.

Cold/Wind Chill, McLeod

When
February 18, 4:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
McLeod forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.824, -94.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -38 at the MNDOT RWIS site near Silver Lake and -35 at the Hutchinson airport KHCD.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Morrison

When
February 18, 5:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Morrison forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.013, -94.268 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -42 during the morning at the Lastrup MNDOT RWIS site.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Benton

When
February 18, 5:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Benton forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.699, -93.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -44 during the morning at the North Dakota Ag Weather Network site just northwest of Rice. It also dropped to -41 during the morning at the Rice MNDOT RWIS site.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Renville

When
February 18, 5:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Renville forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.727, -94.947 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -43 during the morning at the MNDOT RWIS site near Hector.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lac Qui Parle

When
February 18, 5:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Lac Qui Parle forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.996, -96.173 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -43 during the morning at the MNDOT RWIS site near Dawson and -42 during the morning at the MNDOT RWIS site near Marietta.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Yellow Medicine

When
February 18, 5:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Yellow Medicine forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.716, -95.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -40 during the morning at the MNDOT RWIS site near Canby.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Sibley

When
February 18, 5:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Sibley forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.580, -94.232 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -40 during the morning at the MNDOT RWIS site near Winthrop.

Cold/Wind Chill, Chisago

When
February 18, 5:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Chisago forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.503, -92.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -32 at the Rush City Airport KROS.

Cold/Wind Chill, Isanti

When
February 18, 5:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Isanti forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
45.562, -93.295 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -36 at the Cambridge airport KCBG.

Cold/Wind Chill, Nicollet

When
February 18, 5:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Nicollet forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.350, -94.247 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -32 at the Ag Weather Station in North Mankato.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Redwood

When
February 18, 6:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Redwood forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
44.404, -95.254 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A couple hours with wind chill below -35 observed at KRWF. Also, the wind chill dropped to -42 during the morning of the 18th at the MNDOT RWIS site near Milroy.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Anoka

When
February 18, 6:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Anoka forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.273, -93.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The wind chill dropped to -35 during the morning at the Mesowest site in Blaine.

What these are

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

More

Every storm in Minnesota in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, February 2025

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1231917, 1231918, 1231920, 1231902, 1231904, 1231905, 1231906, 1231907, 1231910, 1231911, 1231912, 1231914, 1231921, 1231923, 1231925, 1231915, 1231927, 1231913, 1231928, 1231922, 1231924, 1231930, 1232031, 1232033, 1232034, 1232035, 1232054, 1232059, 1232032, 1232053, 1232057, 1232025, 1232026, 1232027, 1232028, 1232029, 1232030, 1232049, 1232051, 1232058, and more.