Climate of Minnesota - wikipedia Climate of Minnesota Minnesota map of Köppen climate classification. Minnesota has a continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters. Minnesota 's location in the Upper Midwest allows it to experience some of the widest variety of weather in the United States, with each of the four seasons having its own distinct characteristics. The areas near Lake Superior in the Minnesota Arrowhead region experience weather unique from the rest of the state. The moderating effect of Lake Superior keeps the surrounding area relatively cooler in the summer and relatively warmer in the winter, giving that region a smaller yearly temperature range. On the Köppen climate classification, much of the southern third of Minnesota -- roughly from the Twin Cities region southward -- falls in the hot summer humid continental climate zone ( Dfa ), and the northern two - thirds of Minnesota falls in the warm summer great continental climate zone ( Dfb ). Winter in Minnesota is characterized by cold ( below freezing ) temperatures. Snow is the main form of winter precipitation, but freezing rain, sleet, and occasionally rain are all possible during the winter months. Common storm systems include Alberta clippers or Panhandle hooks ; some of which develop into blizzards. Annual snowfall extremes have ranged from over 170 inches ( 432 cm ) in the rugged Superior Highlands of the North Shore to as little as 10 inches ( 25 cm ) in southern Minnesota. Temperatures as low as − 60 ° F ( − 51 ° C ) have occurred during Minnesota winters. Spring is a time of major transition in Minnesota. Snowstorms are common early in the spring, but by late - spring as temperatures begin to moderate the state can experience tornado outbreaks, a risk which diminishes but does not cease through the summer and into the autumn. In summer, heat and humidity predominate in the south, while warm and less humid conditions are generally present in the north. These humid conditions initiate thunderstorm activity 30 -- 40 days per year. Summer high temperatures in Minnesota average in the mid-80s F ( 30 ° C ) in the south to the upper - 70s F ( 25 ° C ) in the north, with temperatures as hot as 114 ° F ( 46 ° C ) possible. The growing season in Minnesota varies from 90 days per year in the Iron Range to 160 days in southeast Minnesota. Tornadoes are possible in Minnesota from March through November, but the peak tornado month is June, followed by July, May, and August. The state averages 27 tornadoes per year. Minnesota is the driest state in the Midwest. Average annual precipitation across the state ranges from around 35 inches ( 890 mm ) in the southeast to 20 inches ( 510 mm ) in the northwest. Autumn weather in Minnesota is largely the reverse of spring weather. The jet stream -- which tends to weaken in summer -- begins to re-strengthen, leading to a quicker changing of weather patterns and an increased variability of temperatures. By late October and November these storm systems become strong enough to form major winter storms. Autumn and spring are the windiest times of the year in Minnesota. Contents 1 General climatology 1.1 Lake Superior 1.2 Climate 1.2. 1 Temperature 1.2. 2 Precipitation 1.2. 3 Full statistics for selected cities 1981 -- 2010 2 Winter 2.1 Winter temperature 2.2 Winter precipitation 2.2. 1 Alberta clippers 2.2. 2 Panhandle hooks 3 Spring 3.1 Wind 3.2 Floods 4 Summer 4.1 Temperature 4.2 Precipitation 4.2. 1 Droughts 4.2. 2 Tornadoes 5 Autumn 6 Image and popular culture 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 10 External links General Climatology The average monthly temperature of Minneapolis varies from 13 ° F ( − 11 ° C ) in January to 73 ° F ( 23 ° C ) in July. Because of its location in North America, Minnesota experiences temperature extremes characteristic of a continental climate, with cold winters and mild to hot summers in the south and frigid winters and generally cool summers in the north. Each season has distinctive upper air patterns which bring different weather conditions with them. The state is nearly 500 miles ( 805 km ) from any large body of water ( with the exception of Lake Superior ), and temperatures and precipitation vary widely. It is far enough north to experience − 60 ° F ( − 51 ° C ) temperatures and blizzards during the winter months, but far enough south to have 114 ° F ( 46 ° C ) temperatures and tornado outbreaks in the summer. The 174 degree Fahrenheit ( 97 ° C ) variation between Minnesota 's highest and lowest temperature is the 11th largest variation of any U.S. state, and 3rd largest of any non-mountainous state ( behind North Dakota and South Dakota ). Minnesota is far from major sources of moisture and is in the transition zone between the moist East and the arid Great Plains. Annual average precipitation across the state ranges from around 35 inches ( 890 mm ) in the southeast to 20 inches ( 510 mm ) in the northwest. Snow is the main form of precipitation from November through March, while rain is the most common the rest of the year. Annual snowfall extremes have ranged from over 170 inches ( 432 cm ) in the rugged Superior Highlands of the North Shore to as little as 2.3 inches ( 5.8 cm ) in southern Minnesota. It has snowed in Minnesota during every month with the exception of July, and the state averages 110 days per year with snow cover of an inch ( 2.5 cm ) or greater. Lake Superior The cool, moist air near Lake Superior makes fog a frequent occurrence near the shore. Lake Superior moderates the climate of those parts of Minnesota 's Arrowhead Region near the shore. The lake acts as a heat sink, keeping the state 's North Shore area relatively cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. While this effect is marked near the lake, it does not reach very far inland. For example, Grand Marais on the lakeshore has an average July high temperature of 70 ° F ( 21 ° C ), while Virginia, at about the same latitude but inland about 100 miles ( 161 km ) to the west, has an average July high of 77 ° F ( 25 ° C ). Virginia 's average high temperature in January is 15 ° F ( − 9 ° C ), while Grand Marais ' is 23 ° F ( − 5 ° C ). Just a few miles inland from Lake Superior are the Sawtooth Mountains, which almost completely confine the marine air masses and associated precipitation to lower elevations near the lake. Duluth blizzard, March 2007 The prevailing northwest winter winds also limit the lake 's influence. Places near the shoreline can receive lake - effect snow, but because the state lies north and west of the lake, snowfall amounts are not nearly as large as they are in locations like Wisconsin and Michigan that lie downwind to the south. Even so, the single largest snowstorm in Minnesota history was a lake effect event. On January 6, 1994, Finland, Minnesota, received 36 inches ( 91 cm ) of lake effect snow in 24 hours, and 47 inches ( 119 cm ) over a three - day period. Both are Minnesota records. At 85 inches ( 216 cm ) per year, the port city of Duluth has the highest average snowfall total of any city in Minnesota. At 58.9 ° F ( 14.9 ° C ), Grand Marais has the lowest average summer temperature of any city in the state. The climatological effects of Lake Superior tend to stifle convection, thus limiting the potential for tornadoes. Although Cook and Lake counties are two of the largest counties in the state, they have experienced only seven tornadoes in the past 56 years. One of those tornadoes was a large F3 that occurred in the 1969 Minnesota tornado outbreak. Climate Alexandria Brainerd Duluth Grand Marais International Falls Redwood Falls Thief River Falls Twin Cities Winona Worthington Temperature Average Temperatures in Minnesota in ° Fahrenheit ( ° Celsius ), 1971 -- 2000 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Annual Alexandria 8 ( − 13 ) 15 ( − 9 ) 27 ( − 3 ) 43 ( 6 ) 56 ( 13 ) 65 ( 18 ) 70 ( 21 ) 68 ( 20 ) 58 ( 14 ) 45 ( 7 ) 28 ( − 2 ) 14 ( − 10 ) 41 ( 5 ) Brainerd 6 ( − 14 ) 13 ( − 11 ) 26 ( − 3 ) 42 ( 6 ) 56 ( 13 ) 64 ( 18 ) 69 ( 21 ) 66 ( 19 ) 56 ( 13 ) 44 ( 7 ) 28 ( − 2 ) 13 ( − 11 ) 40 ( 4 ) Duluth 10 ( − 12 ) 17 ( − 8 ) 26 ( − 3 ) 39 ( 4 ) 48 ( 9 ) 58 ( 14 ) 66 ( 19 ) 65 ( 18 ) 56 ( 13 ) 45 ( 7 ) 31 ( − 1 ) 17 ( − 8 ) 40 ( 4 ) Grand Marais 14 ( − 10 ) 19 ( − 7 ) 28 ( − 2 ) 38 ( 3 ) 47 ( 8 ) 53 ( 12 ) 61 ( 16 ) 63 ( 17 ) 55 ( 13 ) 45 ( 7 ) 32 ( 0 ) 19 ( − 7 ) 39 ( 4 ) International Falls ( − 16 ) 11 ( − 12 ) 24 ( − 4 ) 39 ( 4 ) 53 ( 12 ) 62 ( 17 ) 66 ( 19 ) 64 ( 18 ) 53 ( 12 ) 42 ( 6 ) 24 ( − 4 ) 9 ( − 13 ) 32 ( 0 ) Redwood Falls 13 ( − 11 ) 20 ( − 7 ) 32 ( 0 ) 47 ( 8 ) 60 ( 16 ) 70 ( 21 ) 74 ( 23 ) 71 ( 22 ) 62 ( 17 ) 49 ( 9 ) 32 ( 0 ) 18 ( − 8 ) 46 ( 8 ) Thief River Falls ( − 16 ) 11 ( − 12 ) 24 ( − 4 ) 42 ( 6 ) 56 ( 13 ) 64 ( 18 ) 69 ( 21 ) 67 ( 19 ) 56 ( 13 ) 44 ( 7 ) 24 ( − 4 ) 9 ( − 13 ) 39 ( 4 ) Twin Cities 13 ( − 11 ) 20 ( − 7 ) 32 ( 0 ) 47 ( 8 ) 59 ( 15 ) 68 ( 20 ) 73 ( 23 ) 71 ( 22 ) 61 ( 16 ) 49 ( 9 ) 32 ( 0 ) 19 ( − 7 ) 45 ( 7 ) Winona 18 ( − 8 ) 24 ( − 4 ) 36 ( 2 ) 50 ( 10 ) 62 ( 17 ) 71 ( 22 ) 76 ( 24 ) 73 ( 23 ) 64 ( 18 ) 52 ( 11 ) 32 ( 0 ) 23 ( − 5 ) 49 ( 9 ) Worthington 11 ( − 12 ) 18 ( − 8 ) 29 ( − 2 ) 44 ( 7 ) 57 ( 14 ) 67 ( 19 ) 71 ( 22 ) 68 ( 20 ) 59 ( 15 ) 47 ( 8 ) 30 ( − 1 ) 17 ( − 8 ) 43 ( 6 ) Precipitation Average Precipitation in Minnesota in inches ( millimetres ), 1971 -- 2000 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Annual Alexandria 1.0 ( 25 ) 0.7 ( 18 ) 1.5 ( 38 ) 1.9 ( 48 ) 3.0 ( 76 ) 4.5 ( 110 ) 3.3 ( 84 ) 3.6 ( 91 ) 2.7 ( 69 ) 2.2 ( 56 ) 1.2 ( 30 ) 0.6 ( 15 ) 26.0 ( 660 ) Brainerd 0.8 ( 20 ) 0.6 ( 15 ) 1.5 ( 38 ) 2.0 ( 51 ) 3.3 ( 84 ) 4.2 ( 110 ) 4.1 ( 100 ) 3.6 ( 91 ) 2.8 ( 71 ) 2.5 ( 64 ) 1.6 ( 41 ) 0.7 ( 18 ) 27.7 ( 700 ) Duluth 1.0 ( 25 ) 0.5 ( 13 ) 1.4 ( 36 ) 1.6 ( 41 ) 2.3 ( 58 ) 3.7 ( 94 ) 3.7 ( 94 ) 3.7 ( 94 ) 3.7 ( 94 ) 1.9 ( 48 ) 1.4 ( 36 ) 0.8 ( 20 ) 25.6 ( 650 ) Grand Marais 0.7 ( 18 ) 0.6 ( 15 ) 1.1 ( 28 ) 1.3 ( 33 ) 2.5 ( 64 ) 3.4 ( 86 ) 3.4 ( 86 ) 3.1 ( 79 ) 3.4 ( 86 ) 2.6 ( 66 ) 1.8 ( 46 ) 0.8 ( 20 ) 24.6 ( 620 ) International Falls 0.8 ( 20 ) 0.6 ( 15 ) 1.0 ( 25 ) 1.4 ( 36 ) 2.6 ( 66 ) 4.0 ( 100 ) 3.4 ( 86 ) 3.1 ( 79 ) 3.0 ( 76 ) 2.0 ( 51 ) 1.4 ( 36 ) 0.7 ( 18 ) 23.9 ( 610 ) Redwood Falls 0.7 ( 18 ) 0.6 ( 15 ) 1.7 ( 43 ) 2.5 ( 64 ) 3.1 ( 79 ) 4.1 ( 100 ) 3.8 ( 97 ) 3.6 ( 91 ) 2.5 ( 64 ) 1.9 ( 48 ) 1.6 ( 41 ) 0.6 ( 15 ) 26.6 ( 680 ) Thief River Falls 0.2 ( 5.1 ) 0.3 ( 7.6 ) 0.4 ( 10 ) 1.0 ( 25 ) 2.6 ( 66 ) 3.4 ( 86 ) 3.4 ( 86 ) 3.1 ( 79 ) 2.4 ( 61 ) 1.7 ( 43 ) 0.9 ( 23 ) 0.3 ( 7.6 ) 19.7 ( 500 ) Twin Cities 1.0 ( 25 ) 0.8 ( 20 ) 1.9 ( 48 ) 2.3 ( 58 ) 3.2 ( 81 ) 4.3 ( 110 ) 4.1 ( 100 ) 4.1 ( 100 ) 2.7 ( 69 ) 2.1 ( 53 ) 1.9 ( 48 ) 1.0 ( 25 ) 29.4 ( 750 ) Winona 1.4 ( 36 ) 0.7 ( 18 ) 1.8 ( 46 ) 3.5 ( 89 ) 3.9 ( 99 ) 4.2 ( 110 ) 4.4 ( 110 ) 4.7 ( 120 ) 3.9 ( 99 ) 2.2 ( 56 ) 2.2 ( 56 ) 1.3 ( 33 ) 34.2 ( 870 ) Worthington 0.7 ( 18 ) 0.6 ( 15 ) 1.9 ( 48 ) 2.7 ( 69 ) 3.4 ( 86 ) 4.6 ( 120 ) 3.6 ( 91 ) 3.5 ( 89 ) 2.6 ( 66 ) 2.0 ( 51 ) 1.7 ( 43 ) 0.7 ( 18 ) 27.8 ( 710 ) Full statistics for selected cities 1981 -- 2010 Climate data for Duluth Int'l, Minnesota ( 1981 -- 2010 normals, extremes 1871 -- present ) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high ° F ( ° C ) 55 ( 13 ) 58 ( 14 ) 81 ( 27 ) 88 ( 31 ) 95 ( 35 ) 97 ( 36 ) 106 ( 41 ) 97 ( 36 ) 95 ( 35 ) 86 ( 30 ) 73 ( 23 ) 56 ( 13 ) 106 ( 41 ) Mean maximum ° F ( ° C ) 38.8 ( 3.8 ) 43.3 ( 6.3 ) 55.0 ( 12.8 ) 71.9 ( 22.2 ) 80.9 ( 27.2 ) 85.4 ( 29.7 ) 88.7 ( 31.5 ) 86.7 ( 30.4 ) 81.7 ( 27.6 ) 72.4 ( 22.4 ) 54.7 ( 12.6 ) 39.5 ( 4.2 ) 90.2 ( 32.3 ) Average high ° F ( ° C ) 18.9 ( − 7.3 ) 24.0 ( − 4.4 ) 34.4 ( 1.3 ) 49.2 ( 9.6 ) 62.2 ( 16.8 ) 70.8 ( 21.6 ) 76.3 ( 24.6 ) 74.3 ( 23.5 ) 65.0 ( 18.3 ) 51.5 ( 10.8 ) 35.6 ( 2 ) 22.3 ( − 5.4 ) 48.71 ( 9.28 ) Average low ° F ( ° C ) 1.5 ( − 16.9 ) 6.1 ( − 14.4 ) 17.5 ( − 8.1 ) 30.0 ( − 1.1 ) 40.6 ( 4.8 ) 49.3 ( 9.6 ) 55.4 ( 13 ) 54.4 ( 12.4 ) 46.1 ( 7.8 ) 34.8 ( 1.6 ) 21.9 ( − 5.6 ) 7.3 ( − 13.7 ) 30.41 ( − 0.88 ) Mean minimum ° F ( ° C ) − 23.2 ( − 30.7 ) − 19.4 ( − 28.6 ) − 8 ( − 22 ) 13.9 ( − 10.1 ) 27.8 ( − 2.3 ) 36.6 ( 2.6 ) 43.2 ( 6.2 ) 42.1 ( 5.6 ) 30.9 ( − 0.6 ) 20.6 ( − 6.3 ) 2.1 ( − 16.6 ) − 16.7 ( − 27.1 ) − 26.1 ( − 32.3 ) Record low ° F ( ° C ) − 41 ( − 41 ) − 39 ( − 39 ) − 29 ( − 34 ) − 5 ( − 21 ) 16 ( − 9 ) 27 ( − 3 ) 35 ( 2 ) 32 ( 0 ) 23 ( − 5 ) 6 ( − 14 ) − 29 ( − 34 ) − 35 ( − 37 ) − 41 ( − 41 ) Average precipitation inches ( mm ) 0.96 ( 24.4 ) 0.81 ( 20.6 ) 1.49 ( 37.8 ) 2.43 ( 61.7 ) 3.23 ( 82 ) 4.23 ( 107.4 ) 3.85 ( 97.8 ) 3.70 ( 94 ) 4.11 ( 104.4 ) 2.85 ( 72.4 ) 2.09 ( 53.1 ) 1.21 ( 30.7 ) 30.96 ( 786.4 ) Average snowfall inches ( cm ) 19.4 ( 49.3 ) 12.4 ( 31.5 ) 13.2 ( 33.5 ) 6.9 ( 17.5 ) 0.4 ( 1 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0.1 ( 0.3 ) 2.3 ( 5.8 ) 13.7 ( 34.8 ) 17.7 ( 45 ) 86.1 ( 218.7 ) Average precipitation days ( ≥ 0.01 in ) 10.3 8.5 9.7 10.6 12.3 12.6 11.8 10.8 12.3 11.3 10.7 10.5 131.4 Average snowy days ( ≥ 0.1 in ) 12.9 10.1 8.7 4.6 0.5 0 0 0 0.1 2.0 8.9 12.8 60.6 Average relative humidity ( % ) 72.0 69.8 69.3 63.6 62.7 69.5 70.9 74.5 75.7 71.4 74.9 76.3 70.9 Mean monthly sunshine hours 132.7 149.7 190.7 229.5 263.5 272.8 307.5 261.8 194.0 150.4 98.5 102.3 2,353.4 Percent possible sunshine 47 52 52 56 57 58 64 60 51 44 35 38 53 Source : NOAA ( relative humidity and sun 1961 -- 1990 ) Climate data for Minneapolis / St. Paul International Airport ( 1981 -- 2010 normals, extremes 1871 -- present ) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high ° F ( ° C ) 58 ( 14 ) 64 ( 18 ) 83 ( 28 ) 95 ( 35 ) 106 ( 41 ) 104 ( 40 ) 108 ( 42 ) 103 ( 39 ) 104 ( 40 ) 90 ( 32 ) 77 ( 25 ) 68 ( 20 ) 108 ( 42 ) Mean maximum ° F ( ° C ) 43.1 ( 6.2 ) 47.3 ( 8.5 ) 65.9 ( 18.8 ) 80.1 ( 26.7 ) 87.9 ( 31.1 ) 93.3 ( 34.1 ) 94.8 ( 34.9 ) 92.4 ( 33.6 ) 87.9 ( 31.1 ) 79.1 ( 26.2 ) 61.6 ( 16.4 ) 45.5 ( 7.5 ) 96.6 ( 35.9 ) Average high ° F ( ° C ) 23.7 ( − 4.6 ) 28.9 ( − 1.7 ) 41.3 ( 5.2 ) 57.8 ( 14.3 ) 69.4 ( 20.8 ) 78.8 ( 26 ) 83.4 ( 28.6 ) 80.5 ( 26.9 ) 71.7 ( 22.1 ) 58.0 ( 14.4 ) 41.2 ( 5.1 ) 27.1 ( − 2.7 ) 55.2 ( 12.9 ) Average low ° F ( ° C ) 7.5 ( − 13.6 ) 12.8 ( − 10.7 ) 24.3 ( − 4.3 ) 37.2 ( 2.9 ) 48.9 ( 9.4 ) 58.8 ( 14.9 ) 64.1 ( 17.8 ) 61.8 ( 16.6 ) 52.4 ( 11.3 ) 39.7 ( 4.3 ) 26.2 ( − 3.2 ) 12.3 ( − 10.9 ) 37.2 ( 2.9 ) Mean minimum ° F ( ° C ) − 15 ( − 26 ) − 9.4 ( − 23 ) 3.6 ( − 15.8 ) 21.6 ( − 5.8 ) 34.9 ( 1.6 ) 45.0 ( 7.2 ) 53.2 ( 11.8 ) 50.7 ( 10.4 ) 36.4 ( 2.4 ) 25.3 ( − 3.7 ) 7.6 ( − 13.6 ) − 10 ( − 23 ) − 18.9 ( − 28.3 ) Record low ° F ( ° C ) − 41 ( − 41 ) − 33 ( − 36 ) − 32 ( − 36 ) ( − 17 ) 18 ( − 8 ) 34 ( 1 ) 43 ( 6 ) 39 ( 4 ) 26 ( − 3 ) 10 ( − 12 ) − 25 ( − 32 ) − 39 ( − 39 ) − 41 ( − 41 ) Average precipitation inches ( mm ) 0.90 ( 22.9 ) 0.77 ( 19.6 ) 1.89 ( 48 ) 2.66 ( 67.6 ) 3.36 ( 85.3 ) 4.25 ( 108 ) 4.04 ( 102.6 ) 4.30 ( 109.2 ) 3.08 ( 78.2 ) 2.43 ( 61.7 ) 1.77 ( 45 ) 1.16 ( 29.5 ) 30.61 ( 777.6 ) Average snowfall inches ( cm ) 12.2 ( 31 ) 7.7 ( 19.6 ) 10.3 ( 26.2 ) 2.4 ( 6.1 ) trace 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) trace 0.6 ( 1.5 ) 9.3 ( 23.6 ) 11.9 ( 30.2 ) 54.4 ( 138.2 ) Average precipitation days ( ≥ 0.01 in ) 8.9 7.4 9.3 10.7 11.5 11.3 10.2 9.7 9.8 9.2 8.7 9.8 116.5 Average snowy days ( ≥ 0.1 in ) 8.4 6.8 5.4 2.0 0.1 0 0 0 0 0.6 5.2 9.3 37.8 Average relative humidity ( % ) 69.9 69.5 67.4 60.3 60.4 63.8 64.8 67.9 70.7 68.3 72.6 74.1 67.5 Mean monthly sunshine hours 156.7 178.3 217.5 242.1 295.2 321.9 350.5 307.2 233.2 181.0 112.8 114.3 2,710.7 Percent possible sunshine 55 61 59 60 64 69 74 71 62 53 39 42 59 Source # 1 : NOAA ( relative humidity and sun 1961 − 1990 ) Source # 2 : The Weather Channel See also : List of Minnesota weather records Winter The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships are played every January on Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis Even though winter does not officially start until late December, Minnesota usually begins experiencing winter - like conditions in November, sometimes as early as October. As with many other Midwestern states, winter in Minnesota is characterized by cold ( below freezing ) temperatures and snowfall. Weather systems can move in from the north, west, or south, with the majority of the weather being driven in from the north. A vigorous jet stream brings high and low - pressure systems through in quick succession, which can cause large temperature variations over a short period of time. Winter temperature As the last remnants of summertime air in the southern U.S. start to lose their grip, cold polar air building up in northern Canada starts to push farther south, eventually spreading into Minnesota. By the time December and January arrive, Minnesota is fully engulfed in the polar air and is then subjected to outbreaks of arctic air masses. Because there are no natural barriers north or northwest of Minnesota to block arctic air from pouring south, Minnesota gets regular shots of the arctic air through the winter. High pressure systems which descend south from the Canadian plains behind the fronts bring light winds, clear skies, and bitterly cold temperatures. The northern part of Minnesota gets the brunt of the cold air. International Falls, sometimes called the `` Icebox of the nation '', has the coldest average annual temperature of any National Weather Service first - order station in the contiguous United States at 37.4 ° F ( 3.0 ° C ). Tower, Minnesota, sinks below 0 ° F ( − 18 ° C ) on an average of seventy - one days per year, while the ten coldest counties in the contiguous US, based on January minimums, are all located in Minnesota. The air mass then slowly moderates as it moves south into the rest of the state. Alberta clippers alternate with these high - pressure systems, bringing high winds and some snowfall with them. A wintery, February day in St. Paul Minnesota occasionally gets breaks from the polar and arctic air when a zonal flow takes hold. This means that the jet stream will move in a west to east motion -- rather than north to south -- and warmer air from the western United States is pushed into the region. In Minnesota this pattern commonly leads to a prolonged period of above freezing high temperatures that gives Minnesotans a break from the winter freeze. Storms that move into Minnesota from a more westerly direction generally do not bring significant amounts of precipitation with them. Winter precipitation Winter precipitation comes in a few different forms. Snow is the main form of precipitation, but freezing rain, ice, sleet and sometimes even rain are all possible during the winter months. Larger storm systems, often Panhandle hooks or other storms that occur with a meridional flow, can bring large amounts of snow and even blizzard conditions. Alberta clippers Typical winter storm tracks in Minnesota. Alberta clippers are fast - moving areas of low pressure that move through Minnesota during the winter months. Clippers get their name from Alberta, Canada, the province from which they begin their southward track. ( Other variations of the same type of storm systems are `` Saskatchewan Screamers '' or `` Manitoba Maulers ''. ) Although clippers often originate over the northern Pacific Ocean, they lose most of their moisture through orographic lift when they collide with the Canadian Rockies. Because of the limited moisture content and quick movement of the systems, clippers rarely produce more than 6 in ( 15 cm ) of snow as they pass through Minnesota. The biggest effects of an Alberta Clipper are what follows them, and that is arctic air, high wind speed, and dangerous wind chills. This often results in severe blowing and drifting snow, and sometimes even blizzard conditions. Alberta Clippers often proceed to become copious lake - effect snow producers on the southern and eastern shores of the Great Lakes. Panhandle hooks In terms of their characteristics, Panhandle hooks are nearly the opposite of Alberta clippers. Instead of forming in the north and dropping south, these low pressure systems form in the southwestern United States and then move northeast. They get their name from the location where they usually make their turn to the north ; near the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas. Unlike clippers, these storms usually have a great deal of moisture to work with. As the storms make their turn to the north, they pull in moist air from the nearby Gulf of Mexico and pull it northward toward Minnesota and other parts of the Midwest. As these systems move to the northeast, there will usually be a heavy band of snow to the northwest of the low pressure center if there is enough cold air present. A wintery mix of precipitation, rain, or sometimes even thunderstorms will then often occur to the south of it. Snowfall over a foot ( 30 cm ) is not uncommon with a panhandle hook, and because of the high moisture content in these systems the snow is usually wet and heavy. Large panhandle hooks can become powerful enough to draw in arctic air after they pass by the state, leaving bitter cold temperatures and wind chills in their wake. Panhandle Hooks are responsible for some of the most famous blizzards that have occurred in the Midwest, including the Great Storm of 1975. Spring A Minnesota wetland during the month of April Spring is a time of major transition in Minnesota. As winter nears its end, the sun rises higher in the sky and temperatures begin to moderate. As this happens much of the Midwest starts to experience severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Storm systems that move inland from the Pacific begin to collide with the increasingly warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. In the early part of the spring, Minnesota is usually not in a geographically favorable position to experience severe weather since the warm air needed for it has not yet pushed that far to the north. Early spring tornado outbreaks do occur occasionally in Minnesota though, as evidenced by the 1998 Comfrey -- St. Peter tornado outbreak on March 29, 1998. More often, Minnesota is on the northern ( cooler ) side of major storm systems in the early spring, which instead results in only rain and possibly snow. Even though the winter snow pack typically starts to melt in southern Minnesota in early March, there is usually still enough cold air present over Canada to allow for major snow storms in Minnesota until late April. Wind turbines in western Minnesota As spring progresses, the jet stream starts to push storm systems farther to the north, and southern Minnesota becomes more prone to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. As spring moves into the later stages, the chances for snow continue to drop and eventually disappear, south to north. By the time it gets warm enough for severe weather in northern Minnesota, the strength of storm systems have usually started to decrease, which results in fewer severe storms in northern Minnesota compared to the southern part of the state. Wind With the exception of areas along the shores of Lake Superior, winds in Minnesota generally prevail from the north and northwest in the winter, and south and southeast in the summer. On average, autumn and spring are the windiest times of the year in Minnesota. October is the windiest month in northwest Minnesota, while April is the windiest over the rest of the state. Winds generally average between 9 and 11 mph ( 14 and 18 km / h ) across the state, with one major exception. The heaviest winds in the state are found on the Buffalo Ridge, or Coteau des Prairies, a flatiron - shaped area extending from Watertown, South Dakota, diagonally across southwestern Minnesota and into Iowa. Created by two lobes of a glacier parting around a pre-existing plateau during the ( Pleistocene ) Ice Age, the Buffalo Ridge is ideal for wind power generation, with average wind speeds of 16.1 mph ( 26.8 km / h ). Floods A bridge connecting East Grand Forks, Minnesota, to Grand Forks, North Dakota, is submerged during the record flooding of the Red River in 1997. Minnesota is prone to flooding in its major rivers by spring snowmelt runoff and ice jams. Spring flooding to some degree occurs almost annually on some Minnesota rivers, but major floods have occurred in 1965, 1969, 1997, 2001, and 2009. The flooding in 1965 was the worst flood in Minnesota history on the Mississippi River, while the flooding in 1997 was the worst in history on the Red River. The Red River flood of 1997 was aided heavily by the 11 blizzards that struck Minnesota that winter. Besides heavy winter and spring snowfall, cold winter temperatures and heavy autumn and spring rains causing sudden run - off surges are also common causes of spring river flooding in Minnesota. Minnesota is also prone to both river flooding and localized flash flooding by extended periods of heavy late - spring and summer rainfall. The Great Flood of 1993 on the Mississippi River was caused by copious amounts of rain that fell after the spring snow melt. The 2007 Midwest flooding, which affected the hilly Driftless area of southeast Minnesota was the result of a training pattern of storms mixing warm moist air from Tropical Storm Erin with cooler Canadian air, resulting in record 24 - hour rainfall totals of up to 17 inches ( 432 mm ), with a similar flooding event in 2010 as a result of the remnants of tropical storm Georgette in the eastern Pacific and Hurricane Karl in the Gulf of Mexico. Summer Canoes ready for use on a summer afternoon at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis During a Minnesota summer, heat and humidity predominate in the south, while warm and less humid conditions are generally present in the north. A main feature of summer weather in Minnesota and the Midwestern United States as a whole is the weakening of the jet stream, leading to slower movement of air masses, a general increase in the stability of temperatures, and less wind. The strong wind that does blow almost always comes from the south, bringing in warm temperatures and humidity. These humid conditions and a jet stream that has pushed into the northern parts of the U.S. initiate thunderstorm activity 30 -- 40 days per year. Temperature Showy ladyslippers bloom during the summer in Voyageurs National Park. Daily average summer temperatures in Minnesota range from the low 70s ( 22 ° C ) in the south to the mid 60s ° F ( 19 ° C ) in the north. Because summer time air masses are not as volatile as in the winter, daily high and low temperatures rarely vary more than 15 degrees ( 7 ° C ) either side of normal. While summertime around much of the country means long stretches of hot and humid weather, Minnesota is located far enough north where periods of cooler, drier polar air frequently move in behind polar fronts dropping south from Canada. The polar air typically does not linger very long however and is quickly replaced by the warmer and more humid air from the Gulf of Mexico again. The cool, dry polar air colliding with hot and humid summertime air keep the threat of thunderstorms and tornadoes in Minnesota through July and August. Northern Minnesota is considerably cooler and less humid than southern Minnesota during the summer months. For example, Duluth 's annual average temperature and dew point are 6 degrees ( 3.4 ° C ) cooler than Minneapolis '. July is the hottest month in Minnesota statewide and is usually the month when the peak heat waves occur. In July 1936, Minnesota and the rest of the Midwest suffered through its most severe heat wave on record. Most of the state was engulfed in 100 ° F ( 38 ° C ) temperatures for several days in a row, and Minnesota 's all - time record high temperature of 114 ° F ( 46 ° C ) was equaled during this stretch. This heat wave was also responsible for the Twin Cities ' all - time record high of 108 ° F ( 42 ° C ), as well as the all - time record high of several other cities across the state. The western region of Minnesota experiences the hottest summer temperatures. Coteau des Prairies can heat cities to the north of it similar to how places in the Rocky Mountains are warmed by Chinook winds. As southwest winds blow down the slope of Coteau des Prairies, the air compresses and warms. This heats the hot air even further and often brings locations such as Beardsley and Moorhead the warmest temperatures in the state, despite their higher latitudes. Precipitation A flash flood in Rochester during the 2007 Midwest flooding The summer months of June, July, August, and September account for nearly half of the annual precipitation total across the state of Minnesota. Most of this rain falls from thunderstorms, a frequent summer occurrence. Even though summer is the primary season for Minnesota to experience thunderstorms, they can occur from March to November. These storms can become severe, producing large hail, strong tornadoes, and large bow echos that result in damaging straight - line winds. Minnesota has experienced several major derecho events, most recently the Boundary Waters - Canadian Derecho which blew down millions of trees in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on July 4, 1999. Summertime thunderstorms are fueled by dew points that often reach into the 70s ° F ( 21 ° C ) and sometimes even 80 ° F ( 27 ° C ). In addition to severe conditions, thunderstorms produce heavy rain and cloud to ground lightning. Heavy rain brings flash floods to Minnesota an average of three days per year. With the exception of hail, summer precipitation in Minnesota is almost always in the form of rain. The lone exception is in far northern Minnesota, where in mid-September, small amounts of snow become a possibility. Droughts Southern Minnesota is located on the edge of Tornado Alley Droughts are an annual summer concern in Minnesota, especially for farmers. The growing season ( which varies from 90 days per year in the Iron Range to 160 days in southeast Minnesota ) is when Minnesota averages its highest percentage of annual precipitation, so a lack of rainfall during this time period can be devastating to crops. The last major drought in Minnesota was in 1988. During that year, the period of April -- July was the 2nd driest in the previous century, and the period of May -- August was the hottest on record. The combination of dry skies and heat caused a severe drought which cost the state approximately 1.2 billion dollars in crop losses. Other memorable drought years were 1976 and the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s. During the dust bowl, inappropriate farming techniques enhanced by years of drought conditions led to dust storms in Southern Minnesota and the other parts of the Midwest. Drought conditions also have helped spawn forest fires. In 1894 the Great Hinckley Fire destroyed Hinckley killing an estimated 459 people, and in 1918 a forest fire killed 453 people in the vicinity of Cloquet. More recently, in 2006, the Cavity Lake Fire burned 31,830 acres ( 129 km2 ) in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Tornadoes An F3 tornado in southern Minnesota on August 24, 2006 Tornadoes are possible in Minnesota from March -- November, but the peak tornado month is June, followed by July, May, and August. Tornadoes are most common in the southern half of the state, which is located on the northern edge of Tornado Alley. Just over a third of tornadoes in Minnesota strike between 4 : 00 pm and 6 : 00 pm. The state averages 27 tornadoes per year, 99 % of which have ratings of F2 or weaker. On average Minnesota has an F5 tornado once every 25 years. Some of the notable Minnesota tornadoes and outbreaks are : August 21, 1883 : An F5 tornado struck Rochester, killing 37. This tornado led to the construction of a new hospital, which eventually evolved into the Mayo Clinic. April 14, 1886 : A large tornado struck Sauk Rapids, killing 72. This was Minnesota 's deadliest tornado on record. June 22, 1919 : The second - deadliest tornado in Minnesota history tore through Fergus Falls, killing 59. May 6, 1965 : Four F4 tornadoes ripped through the Twin Cities metro area ( two of them in Fridley ), killing 13. June 16, 1992 : Minnesota experienced its second - largest tornado outbreak with 27 recorded twisters. The largest tornado in this family was an F5 that struck Chandler, Minnesota, killing one. This is the most recent F5 tornado to strike the state. March 29, 1998 : An F4 and an F3 tornado that were part of a larger outbreak tore through the towns of Comfrey and St. Peter. They killed two and caused damage in the millions of dollars in Minnesota 's earliest recorded tornado outbreak. June 17, 2010 : Three EF4 and six EF3 tornadoes were part of 48 twisters that touched down in Minnesota 's largest tornado outbreak on record. Autumn Early autumn in Voyageurs National Park Autumn weather in Minnesota is marked by the rapid decrease of severe thunderstorms, dramatic cooling, and eventually the possibility of blizzards. With summer - time heat still prevalent in the southern U.S. and colder air quickly taking hold in Canada, Minnesota can be affected by wide temperature swings in short periods of time. Because of this, the jet stream, which tends to weaken during the summer months, begins to re-strengthen. This leads to quicker changes in weather patterns and increasingly strong storm systems. As autumn moves on, these storm systems bring with them progressively colder air, eventually changing the rain over snow, generally starting in October in the northern part of the state and November in the south. From September to December the average temperature in the state falls by approximately 43 ° F ( 23 ° C ), the largest such temperature swing within any Minnesota season. Blue skies and bright leaves during a Minnesota autumn. By late October and November atmospheric dynamics are generally in place to allow storm systems to become very intense. In fact, Minnesota 's all - time record low pressure was recorded during autumn on October 26, 2010. If these powerful storm systems are able to draw enough cold air southward from Canada, they can evolve into powerful blizzards. Some of Minnesota 's most memorable winter storm events have occurred during the middle part of the autumn season. On November 11, 1940, the southeast half of Minnesota was surprised by the Armistice Day Blizzard. Temperatures in the 60s ° F ( 16 ° C ) on the morning of November 11 dropped into the single digits ( below -- 12 ° C ) by the morning of November 12, bringing with them 27 inches ( 69 cm ) of snow and 60 mph ( 100 km / h ) winds. Known deaths in this blizzard reached 154, 49 of them in Minnesota. On October 31, 1991, much of Minnesota was hit by the Halloween Blizzard. A band of snowfall of 24 + in ( 60 + cm ) fell from the Twin Cities north to Duluth. It was the single largest snowfall ever recorded in many communities across eastern Minnesota. Image and popular culture Main article : Culture of Minnesota The ice castle at the 2004 St. Paul Winter Carnival Minnesota 's climate has done much to shape the image of the state. Minnesota has a late but intense spring, a summer of water sports, an autumn of brilliantly colored leaves, and a long winter with outdoor sports and activities. `` Summer at the lake '' is a Minnesota tradition. Water skiing was invented in Minnesota by Ralph Samuelson, and the Minneapolis Aquatennial features a milk carton boat race. Contestants build boats from milk cartons and float them on Minneapolis area lakes, with recognition based more on colorful and imaginative designs than on actual racing performance. But while Minnesota 's warm summers provide its natives and tourists with a variety of outdoor activities, the state is known for its winters. The state has produced curlers, skiers, and lugers who have competed in the Winter Olympics, pioneers who invented the snowmobile, and legions of ice fishing enthusiasts. Ice fishing in Minnesota has been a theme in Hollywood films The state is also known for enthusiastic ice hockey players, both at the amateur and professional levels. Eveleth, Minnesota, home to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, boasts of the number of quality players and the contributions of the city ( and the rest of the Mesabi Range ) to the growth and development of hockey in the United States. To many outsiders, Minnesota 's winters appear to be cold and inhospitable. A World War II newscaster, in describing the brutally cold conditions of the Russian front, stated that at least Minnesotans could understand it. A New York journalist visited St. Paul and declared that the city was `` another Siberia, unfit for human habitation. '' In response, the city decided to build a huge ice palace in 1886, similar to one that Montreal had built in 1885. They hired the architects of the Canadian ice palace to design one for St. Paul and built a palace 106 ft ( 32.3 m ) high with ice blocks cut from a nearby lake. This began the tradition of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, a ten - day festival which celebrates Minnesota 's winter season. Minnesota 's winters are the setting of several television programs and Hollywood films, including the 1996 film Fargo which features the backdrop of a Minnesota winter, but like most of the characters in the movie, the climate is portrayed as bleak and inhospitable. See also Minnesota portal Climate of the United States Meteorology Notes Jump up ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima ( i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month ) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010. Jump up ^ Official records for Duluth were kept at downtown from August 1871 to May 1941, and at Duluth Int'l since June 1941. For more information, see ThreadEx. Jump up ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima ( i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year ) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010. Jump up ^ Official records for Minneapolis / St. Paul were kept by the St. Paul Signal Service in that city from January 1871 to December 1890, the Minneapolis Weather Bureau from January 1891 to 8 April 1938, and at KMSP since 9 April 1938. References ^ Jump up to : `` Minnesota Tornado History and Statistics '' Archived August 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine., Minnesota Climatology Working Group, updated 05.28. 2013, retrieved 10.28. 2013 Jump up ^ `` NCRFC Climate and Topography ''. NOAA. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Minnesota Climate Facts ''. Minnesota DNR. 2004. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ `` U.S. Extreme Record Temps & Differences ''. Golden Gate Weather Services. 2005. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 23. Jump up ^ Daly, Christopher ( 1990 ). `` Annual Average Precipitation ''. Desert Research Institute. Archived from the original ( JPG ) on 2006 - 12 - 30. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Climate Extremes for Minnesota ''. Minnesota Climatology Office. September 8, 2004. Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. ^ Jump up to : Keen A., Richard ( 1992 ). Minnesota Weather. American and World Geographic Publishing. ISBN 1 - 56037 - 000 - 9. ^ Jump up to : Seeley W., Mark ( 2006 ). Minnesota Weather Almanac. Minnesota Historical Society press. ISBN 0 - 87351 - 554 - 4. ^ Jump up to : `` superior pursuit : facts about the greatest great lake ''. Minnesota Sea Grant. Retrieved 2007 - 06 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Lake Superior Uplands ''. Minnesota DNR. Retrieved 2007 - 02 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Average climate in Minnesota ''. citydata.com. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Snowfall, 2005 - 11 -- 2006 - 04 ''. Minnesota Climatology Office. 2006. Archived from the original on 2006 - 12 - 07. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Climate Summaries ''. University of Illinois. Archived from the original on 2006 - 11 - 12. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. ^ Jump up to : Ross, Douglas. `` U.S. Climate Normals ''. NCDC. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Minnesota Tornadoes by County 1950 -- 2005 '' ( JPG ). NOAA. 2005. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 26. ^ Jump up to : Ross, Douglas ( 1971 -- 2000 ). `` Daily Normals for Alexandria, Minnesota ''. NCDC. Retrieved 2007 - 06 - 07. ^ Jump up to : Ross, Douglas ( 1971 -- 2000 ). `` Daily Normals for Brainerd, Minnesota ''. NCDC. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 27. ^ Jump up to : Ross, Douglas ( 1971 -- 2000 ). `` Daily Normals for Duluth, Minnesota ''. NCDC. Retrieved 2007 - 06 - 07. ^ Jump up to : Ross, Douglas ( 1971 -- 2000 ). `` Daily Normals for Grand Marais, Minnesota ''. NCDC. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 27. ^ Jump up to : Ross, Douglas ( 1971 -- 2000 ). `` Daily Normals for International Falls, Minnesota ''. NCDC. Retrieved 2007 - 06 - 07. ^ Jump up to : Ross, Douglas ( 1971 -- 2000 ). `` Daily Normals for Redwood Falls, Minnesota ''. NCDC. Retrieved 2007 - 06 - 07. ^ Jump up to : Ross, Douglas ( 1971 -- 2000 ). `` Daily Normals for Thief River Falls, Minnesota ''. NCDC. Retrieved 2007 - 06 - 07. ^ Jump up to : Ross, Douglas ( 1971 -- 2000 ). `` Daily Normals for the Twin Cities ''. NCDC. Retrieved 2007 - 06 - 07. ^ Jump up to : Ross, Douglas ( 1971 -- 2000 ). `` Daily Normals for Winona, Minnesota ''. NCDC. Retrieved 2007 - 06 - 07. ^ Jump up to : Ross, Douglas ( 1971 -- 2000 ). `` Daily Normals for Worthington, Minnesota ''. NCDC. Retrieved 2007 - 06 - 07. Jump up ^ `` NowData -- NOAA Online Weather Data ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 3, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Station Name : MN DULUTH ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 3, 2014. Jump up ^ `` WMO Climate Normals for DULUTH / WSO AP MN 1961 -- 1990 ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 10, 2014. Jump up ^ ThreadEx Jump up ^ `` NowData -- NOAA Online Weather Data ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 12. Jump up ^ `` Station Name : MN MINNEAPOLIS / ST PAUL AP ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 25. Jump up ^ `` WMO climate normals for Minneapolis / INT'L ARPT, MN 1961 − 1990 ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 8, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Monthly Averages for Minneapolis, MN ''. The Weather Channel. Retrieved August 8, 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Climate of Minnesota '' ( PDF ). NCDC. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2006 - 09 - 29. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ Potter, Sean ( August 10, 2006 ). `` Icebox of the Nation ''. USA Today. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ Best Places to Live in Rural America. Progressive Farmer 's 2007 Annual Report. 2007. Jump up ^ Gianassca, Frank. `` Zonal winds tend to bring calm weather ''. USA Today. Retrieved 2006 - 12 - 03. Jump up ^ Palmer, Chad ( 2007 - 11 - 01 ). `` Meridional flow brings extreme weather to USA ''. USA Today. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 19. Jump up ^ Palmer, Chad. `` Alberta Clippers reinforce cold air ''. USA Today. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 15. Jump up ^ Metcalfe, John ( 2011 - 01 - 05 ). `` Winter storm class : The Clipper with different names ''. abc2news.com. Archived from the original on 2011 - 01 - 15. Retrieved 2011 - 02 - 14. Jump up ^ Henson, Bob. `` Alberta Clipper ''. The Weather Notebook. Archived from the original on 2015 - 02 - 19. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. ^ Jump up to : Douglas, Paul ( 1990 ). Prairie Skies. Voyageur Press, Inc. ISBN 0 - 89658 - 208 - 6. Jump up ^ `` Lake Effect Snow ''. The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on 2007 - 03 - 04. Retrieved 2006 - 12 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Panhandle Hook ''. NOAA. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 15. Jump up ^ `` Panhandle Hook ''. NOAA. Retrieved 2006 - 12 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Spring and Summer Bring Stormy Weather ''. National Center for Atmospheric Research. Retrieved 2006 - 12 - 08. ^ Jump up to : `` Minnesota Tornado History and Statistics ''. Minnesota Climatology Office. September 20, 2006. Archived from the original on 2007 - 08 - 11. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ `` April Fool 's Day Snowfall of 2002 ''. Minnesota Climatology Office. April 2, 2002. Archived from the original on December 7, 2006. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Minnesota has more potential for wind energy ''. Associated Press. February 8, 2006. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Buffalo Ridge Wind Power Plant ''. Xcel Energy. Archived from the original on May 7, 2006. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Flood Information ''. Army Corps of Engineers. Archived from the original on 2001 - 09 - 15. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 24. Jump up ^ `` 2007 Federal Disaster Declarations ''. FEMA. August 26, 2007. Retrieved 2007 - 08 - 27. Jump up ^ `` The Mississippi River Flood of 1965 ''. NOAA. November 8, 2005. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Famous Minnesota Winter Storms ''. Minnesota Climatology Office. December 10, 2001. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 24. Jump up ^ `` Climatic Conditions Leading to the Spring Flooding of 2001 ''. Minnesota Climatology Office. April 21, 2001. Archived from the original on December 7, 2006. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 24. Jump up ^ Larson, Lee ( June 28, 1996 ). `` The Great USA Flood of 1993 ''. NOAA. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 24. Jump up ^ `` Heavy rains fall on southern Minnesota : August 18 -- August 20 ''. Minnesota Climatology Office. August 22, 2007. Archived from the original on February 23, 2011. Retrieved 2007 - 08 - 24. Jump up ^ `` Significant Flooding and Heavy Rain of September 22 - 23, 2010 ''. National Weather Service, LaCrosse, WI office. September 27, 2010. Retrieved 2011 - 03 - 09. Jump up ^ Cappella, Chris ( December 3, 2003 ). `` Typical speeds of jet stream winds ''. USA Today. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ `` U.S. Thunderstorm Distribution ''. NOAA. Archived from the original on October 15, 2006. Retrieved 2006 - 10 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Air Temperatures & Dew Points -- Great Lakes States ''. Minnesotans For Sustainability. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Tuesday, July 7, 1936 : How to keep cool ''. Minneapolis Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007 - 03 - 14. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Normal Precipitation Maps ''. Minnesota Climatology Office. November 13, 2003. Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ `` The Boundary Waters - Canadian Derecho ''. NOAA. Retrieved 2006 - 12 - 03. Jump up ^ `` High Dew Point Temperatures ''. Minnesota Climatology Office. July 28, 2005. Archived from the original on February 8, 2007. Retrieved 2006 - 12 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Drought of 1988 '' ( PDF ). Minnesota DNR. January 1989. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2006 - 12 - 11. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 21. Jump up ^ `` Timeline of the Dust Bowl ''. PBS. Archived from the original on 2012 - 03 - 07. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Monday, Oct. 14, 1918 : Hundreds die in Cloquet fire ''. Minneapolis Star Tribune. November 11, 2005. Archived from the original on 2007 - 03 - 16. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Cavity Lake fire nearly history ''. Associated Press. August 6, 2006. Archived from the original on December 20, 2010. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Sauk Rapids History ''. City of Sauk Rapids. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Jet Stream ''. University of Illinois. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Local Climate Records ''. NOAA. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 23. Jump up ^ Boulay, Pete. `` Hey How 's the Weather ? -- July -- August 2003 ''. Minnesota State Climatology Office. Archived from the original on 2007 - 02 - 03. Retrieved 2007 - 01 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Record Low Pressure Hits Minnesota October 26 -- 27, 2010 ''. Minnesota Climatology Working Group : University of Minnesota. 2010 - 10 - 26. Archived from the original on 2010 - 10 - 31. Retrieved 2010 - 10 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Armistice Day Storm ''. NOAA. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Tuesday, Nov. 12, 1940 : Armistice Day blizzard ''. Minneapolis Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 2006 - 09 - 20. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Top 5 weather events of the 20th Century ''. Minnesota Climatology Office. Archived from the original on 2006 - 12 - 07. Retrieved 2006 - 12 - 03. ^ Jump up to : Dregni, Eric ; Mark Moran ; Mark Sceurman ( 2006 ). Weird Minnesota. New York, NY : Sterling Publishing. ISBN 1 - 4027 - 3908 - 7. ^ Jump up to : Lass, William E. ( 1998 ) ( 1977 ). Minnesota : A History ( 2nd ed. ). New York, NY : W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0 - 393 - 04628 - 1. Jump up ^ `` U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame ''. Retrieved 2007 - 02 - 04. Jump up ^ `` Winter Carnival : History ''. St. Paul Winter Carnival. Archived from the original on January 29, 2007. Retrieved 2007 - 02 - 04. Jump up ^ `` Review of Fargo ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2007 - 02 - 11. External links Minnesota State Climatology Office National Weather Service -- Central Region Headquarters National Climatic Data Center Natural Disasters Minnesota 's Fiercest Floods Documentary produced by Twin Cities Public Television Minnesota 's Deadliest Blizzards Documentary produced by Twin Cities Public Television Minnesota 's Deadliest Tornadoes Documentary produced by Twin Cities Public Television Climate of the United States States Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Federal district Washington, D.C. Insular areas American Samoa The Marianas Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Associated states Marshall Islands FS Micronesia Palau State of Minnesota Saint Paul ( capital ) Topics Outline Index Cities Climate Colleges and universities Congressional districts Ecology Geography Geology Governors High schools Historical Congressional delegations Historical Landmarks History Lakes Movies and television Music People Political parties Rivers School districts Scouting State fair State parks Territory Townships Transportation Tourist attractions Society Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Politics Sports Theater Regions Arrowhead Boundary Waters Buffalo Ridge Central Coteau des Prairies Dissected Till Plains Driftless Area Iron Range Minnesota River Valley North Shore Northwest Angle North Woods Pipestone Red River Valley Siouxland Southeast Twin Cities metropolitan area Largest cities pop. over 25,000 Andover Apple Valley Blaine Bloomington Brooklyn Center Brooklyn Park Burnsville Chaska Coon Rapids Cottage Grove Duluth Eagan Eden Prairie Edina Fridley Inver Grove Heights Lakeville Mankato Maple Grove Maplewood Minneapolis Minnetonka Moorhead Oakdale Owatonna Plymouth Prior Lake Ramsey Richfield Rochester Roseville St. Cloud St. Louis Park Saint Paul Savage Shakopee Shoreview Winona Woodbury Counties Aitkin Anoka Becker Beltrami Benton Big Stone Blue Earth Brown Carlton Carver Cass Chippewa Chisago Clay Clearwater Cook Cottonwood Crow Wing Dakota Dodge Douglas Faribault Fillmore Freeborn Goodhue Grant Hennepin Houston Hubbard Isanti Itasca Jackson Kanabec Kandiyohi Kittson Koochiching Lac qui Parle Lake Lake of the Woods Le Sueur Lincoln Lyon Mahnomen Marshall Martin McLeod Meeker Mille Lacs Morrison Mower Murray Nicollet Nobles Norman Olmsted Otter Tail Pennington Pine Pipestone Polk Pope Ramsey Red Lake Redwood Renville Rice Rock Roseau Saint Louis Scott Sherburne Sibley Stearns Steele Stevens Swift Todd Traverse Wabasha Wadena Waseca Washington Watonwan Wilkin Winona Wright Yellow Medicine Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Climate_of_Minnesota&oldid=802911650 '' Categories : Climate of Minnesota Climate of the United States by state Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Featured articles Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Français Edit links This page was last edited on 29 September 2017, at 07 : 17. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: when does it start getting cold in mn
Answer: November, sometimes as early as October.