National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Above Normal Temperatures, Strong Thunderstorms, Tropical Development Being Monitored

Well above normal temperatures are forecast to shift from the northern Plains through the Northeast U.S. over the long holiday weekend. A few strong to severe thunderstorm will be possible as well along with a potential for excessive rainfall. A tropical or subtropical depression could form off the Southeast U.S. coast over the weekend while drifting northward to northeastward. Read More >

Overview

In late January 2019, a historic arctic outbreak brought bitterly cold wind chills and record-breaking cold temperatures to the Midwest. Many schools and some businesses and government offices were closed for three days, with USPS mail delivery even suspended on Wednesday, January 30th due to extremely dangerous wind chills. The coldest temperatures occurred on the morning on January 31st when Cotton, MN recorded a low of -56, approaching the Minnesota state record low of -60 set back in 1996. The low of -56 at Cotton, MN was the coldest temperature recorded in the Lower 48 for this entire period of cold weather!

 

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Local and national media outlets check out the official NWS Cooperative Observer temperature sensor in Cotton, MN. (Photo: NWS)